by harness racing publicists across North America

Friday night’s (Sept. 16) edition of Racing Roundup features results stories from Batavia Downs, Hollywood Dayton Raceway, Vernon Downs and Saratoga.

BZ Glide back on track in Open Trot at Batavia Downs

Batavia, NY— The last time BZ Glide visited the winner’s circle was on May 27 of this year, but that absence was quelled when he got up late to win the $10,000 trotting feature at Batavia Downs on Friday night (Sept. 16).

Paul White photo

BZ Glide digs in for a neck victory in the featured trotting event on Friday evening at Batavia Downs.

As the race got underway, habitual leaver Kahoku (Kevin Cummings) took a stay-at-home approach and let Studio City (Dave McNeight III), Noble Legend (Jack Flanigen) and Serendipitious (Ray Fisher Jr.) all go for the top. Those three battled three-wide to the quarter in :27.4 before Noble Legend finally cleared and then Serendipitious overtook him. But the action was far from over before they reached the half, as Studio City pulled first-over with Kahoku shadowing the move.

The field was in two rows at three-quarters in 1:27.3 when Cummings pulled Kahoku three-high around the far turn. Not to be outdone, Mike Caprio pulled BZ Glide from the back of the pack and swung four-wide at the head of the lane. With horses coming from everywhere, four had a shot in mid-stretch, but it was BZ Glide who brushed the best to win by a neck in 1:58.1.

It was the second win of the year for BZ Glide ($4.30) who is just rounding into form after being off two months over the summer. So far in 2016, he has earned $18,625 for owner Caprio Stable LLC. BZ Glide is trained by Alana Caprio.

The Downs leading driver, Kevin Cummings and Drew Monti both had triples on the card while Mike Caprio checked in with two winners.

Racing resumes at Batavia Downs on Saturday night (Sept. 17) with the first post set at 6:15 p.m.

— by Tim Bojarski

Hollywood Dayton Raceway

Despite a track dampened by a steady drizzle, Mystical Treasure ran her win streak to three by capturing the first $15,000 Fillies and Mares Open Pace at Hollywood Dayton Raceway on Friday night (Sept. 16). The 4-year-old daughter of Real Desire benefitted from an ideal second-over trip engineered by driver Dan Noble to sweep by pacesetting Momas Got A Gun (Chris Page) at the three-quarter pole and then hold fast-closing runner-up Town Temptress (Peter Wrenn) and Safe From Terror (Josh Sutton) in the stretch. The winning 1:52.1 clocking comes on the heels of a track record 1:49.4 effort at Scioto Downs in her last start. Bill Dailey trains the career winner of $277,000 for the Bourbon Creek Stable and his wife Kim, a partnership who purchased Mystical Treasure recently and are yet to see her lose. The win was one of three on the night for Dan Noble, who has captured seven races in the first four nights of the 2016 meet. Racing will resume Saturday night (Sept. 17) at Hollywood Dayton Raceway with a 6:15 post time. The southwest Ohio oval will take a short hiatus during Little Brown Jug week at the Delaware, Ohio, fairgrounds in the coming week, then resume a regular five-days-a-week schedule on Friday (Sept. 23) through December 30.

Vernon Downs

Margaret and Amy Butler’s J A T O ($2.60) kept his perfect Vernon Downs record intact in the featured $9,900 Miracle Mile/Open Handicap Trot on Friday evening (Sept. 16), pressing into the far turn and edging clear in the straight to a decisive 1:54 triumph. The 4-year-old Big Apple Deli gelding came away last in the compact field of five, only commencing his rally upon reaching the backstretch after My Lucky Word (Fern Paquet, Jr.) seized command from Lucid Thoughts (John MacDonald) after a :27.1 first quarter. J A T O advanced first-over to within a length of My Lucky Word through a :57.1 half and proceeded to intensify the pressure on the far turn before edging clear at head-stretch. J A T O wore down My Lucky Word d and drew off to a two-length victory over pocket rival Lucid Thoughts, while Gimme the Cash (Claude Huckabone, III) stayed on for third off a live second-over journey. Chris Lems drove the 30-time winner for trainer Howard Okusko. Live racing returns to Vernon Downs on Saturday (Sept. 17), with the first of 15 races due off at 6:45 p.m.

Saratoga

Bazooka Terror (Western Terror) has been a solid threat in the Filly and Mare Opens throughout the season at Saratoga Casino Hotel. The Heidi Rohr-trained mare had often finished second in the local feature, but had not prevailed until her most recent start at the Spa on August 25th. In that race, Bazooka Terror pulled off a mild upset, recording her first victory over this oval at odds of 6-1. On Friday night (Sept. 16), the 7-year-old mare was dismissed at odds of 12-1 and got away last in the field of six. The backfield got in motion late and Bazooka Terror swooped the group to record the win in 1:54.2, as she went from last to first in the $16,000 feature for distaffers. Bazooka Terror, who returned $27.60 to win, was piloted by Billy Dobson. So Nice (Mark Beckwith) came on late to win a photo for second over Bye Bye Michelle (Stephane Bouchard), who earned the show spot. The exacta returned $73 while the triple paid $258, in a race in which the 3-5 betting favorite was never a factor. Live racing continues on Saturday night (Sept. 17) with a first post time of 6:45 p.m.