BATAVIA, N.Y. --- Foiled Again only had to battle three others in the 11th Annual $50,000 Robert J. Kane Memorial Pace on Saturday night (Oct. 5) at Batavia Downs but a bigger field probably wouldn't have made much of a difference as harness racing's all-time richest pacer cruised to a 1-1/4 length victory over Heston Blue Chip in 1:52 over a fast track.
The Kane Pace, named in honor of Western Regional Off-Track Betting's late chairman of the Board, Robert J. Kane, had a field of seven scheduled to go to the post but the scratches of Sheer Brilliance, Steelhead Hanover and Great Vintage made it a compact field of four.
Foiled Again ($280) with Brett Miller in the sulky, reached the lead just before the quarter pole and set fractions of 27.0, 56.1 and 1:24.3 as Heston Blue Chip sat in the pocket. It became a two horse race down the stretch but Foiled Again was by far the best once again. He was never threatened in the lane by Heston Blue Chip despite the urging of driver Chris Page. Local pacers Fireyourguns (Mike Caprio) finished in third while Sportsman (John Cummings Jr.) took fourth. The final time was 1:52 which was well short of Batavia Downs' record of 1:51.1 set by Aracache Hanover in 2011.
"He's just a pleasure to drive," reinsman Brett Miller said. "He's so professional, I knew a very good horse (Heston Blue Chip) was sitting behind me but he just went on about his business. He won pretty easy."
It was the second Foiled Again has been victorious in the Kane Memorial. He had previously won the event in 2009.
Trained by Ron Burke, Foiled Again (Dragon Again-In A Safe Place) now has earned $725,109 this season and $5,385,093 in his career. It was the seventh win of the season in 23 starts for the 9-year-old gelding whose next start will be in the Breeders Crown eliminations next week at Pocono Downs.
In the 6th Annual $10,000 Brian Schroeder Memorial Trot, Mr. Web Page (John Cummings Jr.) was much the best as he trotted to an impressive five-length victory over BZ Glide (Mike Caprio) in 1:56.0. Mystical Escapade (Shawn McDonough) took the show spot.
Mr. Web Page (Muscles Yankee-India Hall) came in from Hoosier Park with just seven starts under his belt this season. Trained by Roman Lopez, Mr.Web Page, a 5-year-old horse, had no trouble finding his way around the Batavia Downs' half-mile oval and increase his season bankroll to $22,072 and an impressive $365,248 lifetime.
The $10,000 Open Pace was captured by What The Sheik (Ray Fisher Jr.) in 1:54.3. Western Alumni (Ron Beback Jr.) took the show spot while Cashmandu (Kevin Cummings) finished third. The race was named in honor of Michael Scores, one of Western New York's most popular horses ever, who retired this season.
The racing will continue on Wednesday night with a 12-race card set for 6:30 p.m.
For more information including race replays, upcoming promotions, schedule and statistics, go to
http://bataviadowngaming.com/live-racing.
by Brian J. Mazurek, for Batavia Downs
Photo courtesy of Paul White
