Hamburg, NY – Percy’s Z Tam ($8.80) snuggled the pylons in cutting the mile in Buffalo Raceway’s $12,000 Class AA Open Handicap Pace on Saturday night (July 18) and he needed every step of the ground-saving journey to collect a head win over Daylight Rush in a seasonal best 1:55.

Percy’s Z Tam (#4) won Saturday’s Open Handicap Pace by a head at Buffalo Raceway. Bill Burke Photo.

Zooming off the gate from the four hole, Percy’s Z Tam (Kevin Cummings) was able to get to the cones quickly and posted reasonable splits of :29.3, :58.3 and 1:26.3.

Turning for home, Buffalo Raceway’s Pacer of the Meet, Daylight Rush (David McNeight III), took dead aim at Percy’s Z Tam but just came up a head short. China Dream (Jack Rice) skimmed the inside for third.

Mike Torcello owns the 6-year-old gelded Percy’s Z Tam (American Ideal-Mintjulep Bluechip). Trained by Gerry Sarama, the win boosted Percy’s Z Tam’s winnings to $32,590 this year and $217,986 lifetime.

In the $10,000 Class A Pace, Atlantis (Cummings) took the lead just past the opening panel and held off a late charging Stratosphere by a neck in 1:54.2. In Runaway Bay N (Shawn McDonough) took the show position.

Sitting third approaching the first quarter marker, Atlantis wanted to be the boss on the front end and did just that. Setting a :56.4 opening half, Atlantis ($12.40) was able to withstand the late bid from Stratosphere to notch his fourth victory of the campaign.

Owned by Torcello and trained by Sarama, Atlantis (Well Said-Plant A Kiss) has now pushed his 2020 earnings to $17,749 and $52,014 lifetime.

Utah Beach ($4.50) had a similar journey as Atlantis and posted a neck score over Arch O Matic in 1:54 in the $10,000 Class A-B Handicap Pace.

Going first over to the opening quarter, Utah Beach (McNeight III) enjoyed the front-end trip as Arch O Matic rode the pocket but never could push by in the stretch. Andy’s Ideal (Kyle Cummings) rallied for third place.

Owned and trained by Richard Roth, the 8-year-old Utah Beach (Somebeachsomewhere-Pears N Amoretto) has put $23,900 in the bank this season and $223,841 in his career.

Under Paid made his first appearance at Buffalo Raceway a memorable one as he set the track record for 4-year-old pacing horses with a 1:53.4 clocking over the fast track. The time smashed the previous mark of 1:54.3 established in 2015 by Instant Riches.

It was also the first track record of the season at Buffalo Raceway and it came on closing night.

Racing in the $6,400 Class C optional claiming level, Under Paid ($23), following the guidance of driver Denny Bucceri, posted splits of :28.2, :56.4, 1:25.1 en route to the 2-1/2 length nod over Chanting Hanover (Drew Monti).

Owned by Jennifer Rogowski, Under Paid is trained by Mike Ohol.

The simulcast center at Buffalo Raceway will remain closed until Friday, Jan. 1, 2021. Live racing is tentatively scheduled to resume in January 2021.

For more information including the latest news, race replays and results, go to www.buffaloraceway.com.