Stratosphere strikes again in Open Pace

Batavia, NY — After scoring an eye-opening eight length win last week, Stratosphere bounced right back and won again in the $13,500 Open I Handicap harness racing pace at Batavia Downs on Saturday night (Oct. 16).

Drew Monti sent Stratosphere (Mach Three) off the car and got parked to the quarter in :26.4 before clearing the front. But after taking the lead, they backed off the half to :56.3 and from there had the upper hand.

With McSpidey (Kyle Cummings) breathing down his back and Silver Beast (Jim McNeight Jr.) chasing on the rim, Stratosphere was unfazed while he stuck to his task, rounded the last turn and cruised home to an easy 1-¼ length win in 1:54.1.

It was the second straight Open I win and fourth win in the last five starts for Stratosphere ($3.40) who now has seven wins and $50,978 in earnings for the year for his driver/owner Drew Monti. Darrin Monti trains the winner.

STRATOSPHERE REPLAY

Drew Monti also won with Apple Valley Art (1:56.3, $4.20) and Charmbo Orbit (1:55.1, $3.00) to end the night the leading driver with three wins.

In the $12,100 Open II Handicap, Stranger Things (Shawn McDonough) sat second behind Mississippi Rabbit (Drew Monti) until the head of the lane where he dipped down, snuck up the passing lane and brushed late to a ¼ length win in 1:54.3.

A five-year-old gelded son of Western Terror, Stranger Things ($6.70) is owned by Virgina Schoeffel, Kathy Schoeffel and James Reuther and is trained by Angelo Nappo.

STRANGER THINGS REPLAY

McDonough ended the night with two driving wins as well as one training win.

Other horsemen having two wins were driver Kevin Cummings and trainer Jim Clouser Jr.

With no single unique winning ticket purchased in the Jackpot Pick-5 on Saturday night (Oct. 16), there will be a carryover of $9,927 for that bet in race nine when live racing resumes at Batavia Downs on Wednesday (Oct. 20).

Free full past performance programs for the entire card — that includes these races — can be downloaded at bataviadownsgaming.com under the live racing tab, where they can be found for every live night of racing at Batavia Downs.

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

For full race results, click here.

By Tim Bojarski, for Batavia Downs