Kiwi mare loves racing at Batavia Downs

Batavia, NY — Vogel & Wags Nags, Team Rice Racing and Adelphi Bloodstock have brought many nice top-end horses to Batavia Downs this year and the acquisition of the mare Tuapeka Jessie N fit right into their business model as she remains unbeaten in three starts at the Downs after winning the $13,500 fillies and mares Open I Handicap harness racing pace on Wednesday night (Oct. 27).

No Where To Hide (Drew Monti) was first to the front at the quarter in :27.3, but Jim Morrill Jr. had Tuapeka Jessie N out and rolling as well and took control just past that station. With no further confrontations, Morrill backed off the pace to :56.4 and 1:25.4 before Don’t Chip Me (Jim McNeight Jr.) reached third in the breeze on a rush into the last turn.

That bid failed and Tuapeka Jessie N had only the pocket-sitting No Where To Hide to beat, who moved outside and was wheeling at the top of the stretch. No Where To Hide tried to find more in the lane, but Tuapeka Jessie N was just too much once again and paced away to a 2-1/2 length victory in 1:54.3 on a chilly night.

Tuapeka Jessie N ($2.40) got her fifth win of the year and is now just short of $40,000 in earnings for the year. The 5-year-old daughter of Bettor’s Delight-Tuapeka Maddy is trained by Maria Rice.

TUAPEKA JESSIE N REPLAY

Morrill also won the co-featured $11,250 Open III for distaff pacers with All About Amy ($3.90) who sat second behind Lillian Rose (Dan Yetman) all the way to the top of the stretch where she found room in the passing lane and got up late to win by 1/2 length in 1:56.1.

That was the second win in a row for All About Amy who is owned by Philip Mazzone and trained by Russell Bratt.

Morrill ended the night with three wins on the card as did Kevin Cummings. Gerry Sarama was the leading trainer scoring two wins of his own.

With no single unique winning ticket purchased in the Jackpot Pick-5 on Wednesday night (Oct. 27), there will be a carryover of $12,630 for that bet in race nine when live racing resumes at Batavia Downs on Friday (Oct. 29). There is also a carryover of $657 in the Jackpot Pick-6 in race four.

Free full past performance programs for the entire card — that includes these races — can also be downloaded here.

Post time for the first race Saturday is 5 p.m.

For full race results, click here.

by Tim Bojarski, for Batavia Downs