A classy field of 8 pacers went behind the starting gate for race nine, the weekly Pacing feature. When the gates opened four of them fired out for the lead with Road Knight and Jack Flanigen leaving fastest but were unable to clear Kaa Dee Herman with Ken Holiday who had rail control, those two were slugging it out in a quarter of 28.2.

Coming to the half Kaa Dee Herman was now in front with Road Knight still a parked out second, they went the half in 58.2, racing over a track labeled slow. While all this was going on up front, Fat King Mo Mo and Jim McNeight were watching all the action from the pocket.

Middle way the backstretch on the payoff half, Fat King Mo Mo and McNeight made there move and went by a hard used Kaa Dee Herman at the three-quarters in 1:28.2.

Coming off the turn Fat King Mo Mo didn’t receive any breathers himself as Blueridge D’ Bang and Mark Gilmour despite being parked out every step of the mile were up to challenge with last weeks Open II winner Muhammad Ali N, with leading reinsman Jim Morrill Jr. N lurking second over.

Down the stretch a gutsy Fat King Mo Mo under the rocking motion of McNeight, refused to let anyone get by and got the wire first in a mile of 1:57.1.

No stranger to the winner’s circle this season, Fat King Mo Mo, a 4 year-old son of Northern Luck, won for the 10th time in 2006 raising his seasonal earnings to $46,000 and lifetime earnings to over $82,000. Fat King Mo Mo who is trained by Al Violanti, returned $10.20.

Muhammad Ali N surged at the wire to get the second spot over a very game Blueridge D’ Bang.

Harness Driver’s to Deliver Toys to Local Hospitals

Batavia Downs Gaming is partnering with the locally owned Taco Bell restaurants on a promotion called “Caring for Kids”.

Beginning on Wednesday and on each racing night from November 15 through December 2, the last night of racing, patrons who bring a new, unwrapped toy (minimum value $7.50) to Player’s Club between 6:00 and 9:00 p.m. will receive an entry for a trip of their choice to Florida, Las Vegas or the Bahamas.

Patrons receive one entry for each toy donated.

The winner will be selected at random during a drawing following the 7th race on December 2 in the winner’s circle at Batavia Downs Gaming.

The trips are valued at $1,500 each. Winner need not be present to accept grand prize.

Batavia Downs Gaming harness drivers will deliver all toys collected to kids at Women and Children’s Hospital in Buffalo, Golisano’s Children’s Hospital at Strong Memorial in Rochester and United Memorial Hospital in Batavia.

Pick-6 Carryover Now $800

The free Pick-6 contest returns on Wednesday night with a Carryover Jackpot of $800. Beginning at 6 p.m., Players Club members are given one chance at correctly selecting the winners of races four through nine. If anyone one does, they take home whatever is in the Pick-6 pool. The free pick-6 contest is co-sponsored by the Western New York Harness Horseman’s Association.

BATAVIA DOWNS ITW SIMULCAST CENTER MOVING

Sunday, November 12, will be the last day of business for the Batavia Downs ITW Simulcast Center at its present location inside Batavia Downs Gaming. On Wednesday, November 15, the inter-track wagering (ITW) facility will move across Park Road to the former Matty’s Pizzeria and will re-open for business at its usual time, 11:30 a.m.

The ITW has operated in its Batavia Downs location since the harness track re-opened in 1998. It offers customers surcharge-free betting (on-track payoffs), staffed and self-vending terminals and New York State Lottery games.

The new facility at 8324 Park Road will also feature food and beverages, new flat screen TV’s and convenient free parking.

The ITW is open Wednesday thru Sunday, closed Monday and Tuesday until December 2 when the facility returns to seven-day-a-week service.

Current hours are 11:30 a.m. to 11:00 p.m. Wednesday thru Saturday, 12:00n to 7:30 p.m. Sunday.

Todd Haight