by harness racing publicists across North America

Friday’s (July 7) edition of Racing Roundup features results stories from Buffalo Raceway, Tioga Downs, Saratoga Raceway and Hawthorne Race Course.

BZ Glides gets revenge at Buffalo Raceway

Hamburg, NY — After a pair of heart-breaking losses to Empire Earl N the past two weeks, BZ Glide was able to turn the tables on him and capture the $10,000 Open Trot at Buffalo Raceway Friday night (July 7) in a seasonal best 1:57.3 over the fast track.

Steve Roth photo

BZ Glide gets revenge in Buffalo Raceway’s featured trot.

BZ Glide (Mike Caprio) was second best by just a nose and a half-length to Empire Earl N (Larry Stalbaum) in their last two encounters. But the favored BZ Glide ($3.40) was able to go gate-to-wire and get revenge on Empire Earl N by 1-1/2 lengths.

In drawing the two post, a rarity for BZ Glide, the 8-year-old gelding had no struggles in reaching the front end, putting up fractions of :28.3, :58.4 and 1:28.4. Empire Earl N, who got away fifth in the field of five, was first-over and was in a perfect striking position with a final stanza to trot. But BZ Glide was sick of being a bridesmaid and put up a last quarter of :28.4 to comfortably turn back the mild challenge from Empire Earl N in the stretch drive. Noble Legend (Ray Fisher Jr.) took third place.

Owned by the Caprio Stable LLC and trained by Alana Caprio, BZ Glide (Yankee Glider-Bloomer Zoomer) has won two times in nine starts in 2017. The victory pushed his seasonal winnings to $16,700 and $220,297 lifetime.

Buffalo Raceway’s leading driver Larry Stalbaum padded his win total with three victories while Fisher Jr. also posted a triple.

Racing will continue on Saturday night at 6 p.m. with a 10-race card scheduled.
For more information including the latest news, race replays, results and upcoming promotions, go to www.buffaloraceway.com.

— by Brian Mazurek

Tioga Downs

Lease Ness Monster (Mike Merton) wins the featured Fillies and Mares Open (($12,000), on Friday night (July 7) at Tioga Downs. The 6-year-old Lease On Life mare would grab the lead just before the first quarter controlling the pace going :26.2, :55.0, 1:22.1, 1:50.4. Owned by Matthew and David Waltz while trained by Patti Harmon, Lease Ness Monster ($3.30), was too strong for the late pressure of Sudden Change N (Jim Taggart Jr.), who settled for second. Gweneeee J came flying late to get the third spot. Mike Simons remains top driver at Tioga Downs going in to tonight’s action. Simons would add two more wins tonight to go to 44. Mike Merton would win twice as well to be second with 27 wins. Jim Taggart Jr. and Tom Jackson are tied for third with 26 wins a piece. Jim Marohn Jr. rounds out the top five with 20 wins in just 52 starts. The trainer’s race is much tighter. Mike Deters and Tony Dinges are tied with 14 wins each. The trio of Gary Messenger (11 for 75), David McGinnis (11 for 68), and Mickey McNichol (11 for 47), are all tied for third. Tioga Downs returns to live action with a 10-race card on Saturday (July 8) at 6:50 p.m. For more information please go to www.tiogadowns.com.

Saratoga Raceway

Godiva Seelster has been one of the top pacing mares both at Pompano Park and at Saratoga Casino Hotel over the past few seasons. While always consistent and productive, the Dan Hennessey trained distaffer hasn’t necessarily been at her best since returning to the Spa in April. The7-year-old had recorded just one victory in her eight local starts this year before going off as the 1-5 betting favorite in Friday night’s (July 7) $13,000 Fillies and Mares Open. Driver Wally Hennessey wasted little time putting the speedy mare on the engine and after flying through a first quarter in :26.4, Godiva Seelster got a second quarter in thirty seconds before pacing a back half of :55.4. The talented mare stopped the timer in 1:52.3 to record her fourth victory of the season and 43rd in 126 lifetime starts. So Nice (Jim Devaux) won the place photo with Tataria (Mark Beckwith) in the six-horse feature. While she doesn’t own as high of a win percentage this season as she had in years past, Godiva Seelster has hit the board 11 of 15 seasonal starts and may be primed for a big summer at the Spa. Live racing continues on Saturday night at Saratoga with a 6:45 p.m. first post.

Hawthorne Race Course

Friday evening (July 7) at Hawthorne featured Illinois-bred 3-year-old fillies in two divisions of the Violet Stakes. Race two was the first of the divisions as a field of eight lined up behind the starting gate. Favored was Filly Forty with Jamaica Patton driving. Making the lead was longshot Jewels Hall through the quarter in :28.4. On the backside, Ashlees Cocktail took over, covering the half in :58.0. On the turn, Razzleme Dazzleme moved to challenge Ashlees Cocktail through three quarters in 1:27.2. In the lane, Filly Forty rallied and grabbed the lead late, drawing clear by two lengths at the wire in 1:54.3. Fancy Creek Jolene closed late to finish second while Dandy’s Dududidudu was third. Filly Forty is owned by A Piece Of The Action LLC and trained by Donna Holt. Race three was the second division of the Violet eliminations with nine pacers starting as A Real Doozie was sent away favored with Mike Oosting in the bike. Leaving for the front was San Antonio Rose but My Kind of Dance pushed her through the quarter in :27.3. On the backstretch, San Antonio Rose assumed command, passing the half in :56.2. Into the turn, A Real Doozie took over and opened up the lead. After three-quarters in 1:25.0, A Real Doozie faced a challenge from Lady’s Party. Late in the lane, A Real Doozie was game, but in the shadow of the wire Lady’s Party and Casey Leonard got up by a head to catch A Real Doozie. My Kind of Dance finished third. Final time for the mile was 1:53.1. Lady’s Party is owned by Mitchell Titus and Dennis Wright and trained by Terry Leonard.