by harness racing publicists across North America

The Friday (May 27) edition of Racing Roundup includes feature stories from Buffalo Raceway, Saratoga, Tioga Downs and Vernon Downs.

Great post helps BZ Glide score at Buffalo Raceway

Hamburg, NY — It’s a very rare occurrence when BZ Glide draws the inside post at Buffalo Raceway. It happened on Friday night (May 27) in the $10,000 Open Trot and BZ Glide took full advantage of it by posting a gate-to-wire victory over Lutetium in 1:57.1 over the fast track.

Steve Roth photo

BZ Glide wires the field in the Buffalo Raceway Open Trot.

Usually known for his closing kick, BZ Glide ($3.40) started from the pylons and had to deal with the front-running Lutetium who scored from the two hole. Lutetium tried to leave but BZ Glide and driver Mike Caprio quickly put a stop to that thought.

Just before the opening quarter pole Lutetium (Kevin Cummings) had decided being parked wasn’t the answer and had to settle back behind the pace-setting BZ Glide. With fractions of 28.0, 58.1 and 1:27.4, the race boiled down to a three horse affair.

BZ Glide turned for home a length in front with Lutetium attacking from the inside and Northern Bullet (Jim Morrill Jr.) on the outside. BZ Glide managed to stay strong in the lane and easily held off Lutetium and Northern Bullet who finished in second and third respectively. The margin of victory was a length.

Owned by the Caprio Stable LLC and trained by Alana Caprio, it was the first win in three starts for BZ Glide (Yankee Glide-Bloomer Zoomer). The 7-year-old gelding has now earned $7,000 this season and $176,167 lifetime.

Morrill Jr. had a five-bagger while Kevin Cummings and Shawn McDonough doubled in the bike. Buffalo Raceway leading trainer JD Perrin posted two wins.

Racing will continue on Saturday evening (May 28) at 6 p.m. with an 11-race card scheduled.

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

— By Brian Mazurek

Saratoga

Godiva Seelster (Camluck) moved her win streak to four on Friday night (May 27) as she scored a front-running victory in the $15,000 feature at Saratoga Casino Hotel. Wally Hennessey powered the race’s 4-5 favorite out to the early lead in the 1-1/16 mile Open Pace for Fillies and Mares and Godiva Seelster would not be denied. It was the fourth consecutive victory for the 6-year-old mare, two where at Pompano Park before scoring two straight since after moving north to Saratoga. Godiva Seelster covered the 1 1/16 miles in 2:00 besting pocket sitter Bettorhaveanother (Frank Coppola Jr.) and third place finisher Dilly Dali (Bruce Aldrich Jr.). For Godiva Seelster, who paid $3.70 to win, it was victory number 29 in 92 career starts. The exacta in the feature returned $9.70 and the triple came back $33.20. Godiva Seelster is owned by Paul and Patti O’Neil of Saratoga Springs.
Live racing continues on Saturday night (May 28) at the Spa with first post time set for 6:45 p.m.

Tioga Downs

Pinned in the pocket through the far turn, Shutthefrontdoor ($4.90) only managed to wedge out from traffic in the final 60 yards, still collaring pacesetter K J’s Caroline for a narrow 1:54.1 score in Friday evening’s (May 27) $11,000 Mares Open Pace at Tioga Downs. Dan Clements yielded to the pocket early with the 5-year-old Well Said mare, enabling K J’s Caroline (Justin Huckabone) to cross and clear before rating a tepid :59 half mile. On the backstretch, while Southwind Trini (Mike Merton) loomed first-over, K J’s Caroline accelerated through a :27 third quarter before facing her stiffest competition at head-stretch. Off the corner, Southwind Trini pressed harder, Elm Grove Inarush (Greg Merton) fanned wide from second-over, and Shutthefrontdoor-with pace-was hard pressed for racing room. Shutthefrontdoor was able to wedge out in deep stretch, and her sudden burst of speed was enough for her to prevail. K J’s Caroline just held second, while Elm Grove Inarush’s stand-side rally earned her third honors. Trainer Mike Sinclair co-owns Shutthefrontdoor with Guy Beaulieu and Richard Villeneuve. Mike Merton led all drivers with three wins on the nine-race card, teaming up with Amber Buter trainees Headsaregonna Turn ($22.20, 1:54.3) and Cracker Coffee ($2.20, 1:53.3) as well as Rich Dane trainee Four Hour Nap ($5.10, 1:54.4). Saturday evening’s (May 28) nine-race card is due to begin at 6:30 p.m. with a $318.82 carryover in the 50-cent Pick-5.

Vernon Downs

OK Heavenly ($26.80) sustained a first-over push through the far turn in Friday evening’s (May 27) $8,000 Mares Open Pace at Vernon Downs, chasing down and reeling in odds-on pacesetter All Charged Up for a 1:50.2 victory. Truman Gale settled OK Heavenly last but one in the field of five, having no part of the strenuous pace All Charged Up (John MacDonald) set. After early fractions of :26 and :54.2, All Charged up drew away from pocket rival Love Live Laugh (Jimmy Whittemore) on the far turn. Love Live Laugh’s failure to keep pace on the turn prompted a first-over bid from OK Heavenly, who gradually worked into second off the far turn. The 4-year-old Sportswriter mare sustained progress all the way to the winning post, collaring All Charged up in the final yards and besting her by half a length in the end. Little Santamonica (Frank Davis) escaped far-turn traffic trouble to save third. Heidi Rohr trains OK Heavenly for the partnership of Steven Kouray, Donald DeLuca, and Peter Daratsos. Jimmy Whittemore led all drivers with a hat trick, victorious with Gimme the Cash ($11.60, 1:52.4), Southern Girl ($14.40, 1:52), and My Future Ex ($9.00, 1:55.4).

Fillies contest Saturday Sire Stakes

Saturday evening (May 28) is headlined by a trio of New York Sire Stakes events for 3-year-old trotting fillies, carded as races 5, 7, and 9 on the 11-race card. Meadowlands standout Stick of Butter (Francisco del Cid), 2015 2-year-old NYSS champion Non Stick (Mark MacDonald), and locally-based Swinging Royalty (Chris Lems) have all been installed as morning line favorites in their respective events. Post time is 6:45 p.m.