from harness publicists across North America

Friday’s (Sept. 20) edition of Racing Roundup features results stories from The Meadows, Batavia Downs, and Saratoga Casino and Raceway.

Isabella’s Magic knifes inside for Meadows victory

Washington, PA — Seemingly blocked behind a wall of horses, Isabella’s Magic knifed inside at the top of the lane, weaved a path between horses and scored a 9-1 upset victory in Friday’s $22,500 Filly & Mare Preferred Handicap Pace at The Meadows.

Isabella’s Magic was third over for Greg Grismore, who elected to shift inside rather than send the 6-year-old daughter of Blissfull Hall-Follow The Magic well wide in the stretch. That move worked out perfectly when Isabella’s Magic found a seam and barreled home in 1:52, matching her career best. Early leader Darena Hanover was second, a half-length back, with Star Keeper third.

Ray Simms trains Isabella’s Magic, who now boasts $194,662 in lifetime earnings, for William Spotti, Jr.

Grismore and Brian Zendt each drove three winners on the 15-race card.

With one victory on the program, Dave Palone pushed his career win total to 15,995 in his quest to become the first North American driver with 16,000 wins.

— Evan Pattak

Batavia Downs
BZ Glide ($7.10) went a lifetime best of 1:56.4 and blew away the field of eight in the $8,500 Open Trot at Batavia Downs on Friday night. After sitting a patient third down the backstretch the final time, driver Mike Caprio made the first over move with BZ Glide and cruised past the pacesetting Lutetium (Aaron Byron) by the time they hit the three-quarter pole. From there, the outcome was never in doubt as BZ Glide trotted smartly to the wire, notching a four length victory over Winky’s Pride (Kevin Cummings). Rocky Boy (Jacques Beaudoin) captured the show spot. The 1:56.4 clocking by the 4-year-old gelding beat his previous best of 1:57.2 set on Aug. 25 in the Open Trot at Batavia. Owned by Caprio and trained by Alana Caprio, BZ Glide (Yankee Glide-Bloomer Zoomer) now has four wins in 16 starts in 2013, earning $30,461 along the way. It also was his ninth win in 31 career starts.

Saratoga Casino and Raceway
Zooming recorded his second win in the last three Opens on Friday night at Saratoga Casino and Raceway as the speedy trotter lasted on the lead. The 5-year-old Amber Buter trainee got parked out early but cleared the front past an opening quarter in 28.2. Zooming (Classic Photo) had no difficulty putting his rivals away in the stretch and drew away late before stopping the timer in 1:56. Billy Dobson sat behind Zooming as he recorded his eighth victory of the season. Justgottogetthere (Mark Beckwith) finished second while Victory Tax (Shawn Gray) earned the show spot in the $18,000 trotting feature.