BATAVIA — After laying in wait for over seven-eighths of the mile, Stranger Things found a gap late and shot through it to narrowly win the $12,800 Open Handicap pacing feature at Batavia Downs on Saturday night.

Shawn McDonough got away third with Stranger Things as Fulsome (Kyle Swift) and Lip Reader A (Drew Monti) traded leads through the 27.2-second quarter. Lip Reader A finally gained control in turn two and then rolled past the half and to three-quarters, where Egomania (Jim Morrill Jr.) had moved first-over and was third in the breeze, just outside of Stranger Things, as the race entered the last turn. Positions remained unchanged until they entered the stretch where Egomania tired and drifted out, allowing McDonough to tip Stranger Things off the pegs and take a run at the leader.

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