Shallow, Faithful Desire strike at Batavia

Batavia, NY — Wednesday (Nov. 30) was ladies night at Batavia Downs with a top-heavy program of fillies and mares races who competed on a cold and blustery night. The featured $14,000 Open I Distaff Handicap was won by Shallow (Up The Credit) and driver Ray Fisher Jr. who made her way back to Batavia last week after spending some time at The Spa.

Shallow took the lead and after a snappy :28.2 quarter, Fisher grabbed two fists full of leather and walked to the half in :31.1 split. This flushed Demeter N (Larry Stalbaum) from fourth and she pushed the pace to three-quarters in 1:28.4, getting to within one-half length of Shallow. After staying close around the last turn, Fisher went to work on Shallow who responded and pulled away in deep stretch to win in 1:57.3.

SHALLOW REPLAY

It was the fourth Open I win this year at Batavia for Shallow ($5.10) who is owned by Room 4040 LLC Stables and trained by Andy Gardner. Fisher and Gardner each ended the night with three wins each.

The undercard was a $10,000 mid-level condition that went faster than the feature after Faithful Desire (Real Desire) and driver Jim Morrill Jr. put in a stellar gate to wire effort.

Faithful Desire led the way for Candy’s Desire (Kyle Cummings) and Ruthmae Hanover (Kevin Cummings) who shadowed her second and third through quarters of :28.4, :58 and 1:26.2. With the rest of the field six lengths and more in arrears coming off the final bend, the top three spread out for the final furlong fight.

Faithful Desire was in the middle, flanked by Candy’s Desire in the passing lane and Ruthmae Hanover on the outside. All three drivers were urging their mares, but the leading Faithfull Desire was the toughest and hung on by one-half length in 1:56 flat over Ruthmae Hanover with Candy’s Desire third.

FAITHFUL DESIRE REPLAY