Top horses to be lauded at Batavia Downs

The Upstate New York Chapter of the United States Harness Writers Association has named their choices for the best performing horses at the 2015 Batavia Downs harness racing meet.

Pacer of the Meet: Cobble Beach

(Artiscape-Mirmattculous 1:51.2 $176,867)

Cobble Beach faced the best Open pacers at the Downs week in and week out and never seemed to fail to give his best effort. In 17 starts at Batavia, Cobble Beach won six, finished second four times and third three more. His efforts earned him $42,270 and a seasonal mark of 1:52.4.

Cobble Beach is owned by Leonard Segall and trained by James Clouser Jr.

Trotter of the Meet: Lutetium

(Credit Winner-Luby 1:52.4 $356,617)

This year at Batavia, Lutetium has the most wins of any trotter competing in Open company. In nine starts he won six and finished second the other three. And in those three seconds he was only beaten a length, a neck and a nose. In those nine starts he amassed $37,750 in purses and set a new track record of 1:55.2 for aged trotting geldings at Batavia Downs.

Lutetium is owned by Colleen Girdlestone and trained by Mark Laidlaw

Mare of the Meet: Memumsnotnice

(Jereme's Jet-Bunny Town 1:51.4 $308,343)

After not winning a race since February 4, Memumsnotnice hit her stride at Batavia Downs, winning four Open's, finishing second four times and third five more. She earned $32,942 and took a seasonal mark of 1:55, which was also the fastest Memumsnotnice ever paced over a half mile track.

Memumsnotnice is owned by Thatsideofthefence LLC and John Mungillo, who also trains her.

The Heart of the Standardbred award is given to a horse that displays the will to overcome all odds in pursuit of becoming a race horse.

This year, that award goes to Red Clay (American Mike-Ersa Kash 1:57.4 $21,964)

Red Clay was turned out, green and unraced at two when Pat and Carmen Cappotelli acquired him. Far behind the curve, he was only raced three times at fairs at age three. Then after showing much promise in qualifiers after a very late start at age four, Red Clay experienced more issues that limited that season to only three starts as well.

2015 saw the continuation of Red Clay's penchant for breaking but it was matched by Carmen Cappotelli's patience with trotters and that patience was rewarded with an eye-opening qualifying win at Batavia on August 26. And from there, Red Clay beat the odds.

Red Clay won his next seven out of nine starts and finished second two more times besides that. The seven victories made him the winningest trotter of the meet as well. He was so good in his class he was sent off as the favorite seven times during that nine-race stretch. He took a lifetime mark of 1:57.4 on September 26, a time that at one point seemed unattainable by many, but not by Red Clay.

The connections of all four horses will receive their awards in the Purple Haze Winner's Circle at Batavia Downs on Saturday (Dec. 12) during UNY-USHWA's Night of Distinction.