BZ Glide used a lifetime best time of 1:57.2 to register a narrow head victory over the heavily favoured Ziegfeld in the $8,500 Open Trot at Batavia Downs on Sunday afternoon.
The victory capped off a great weekend for driver Mike Caprio as he swept both the Open Pace with Fireyourguns on Saturday night and the Open Trot with BZ Glide on Sunday afternoon.
Rocky Boy (Jacques Beaudoin) went to the top and set some snappy fractions of :28, :57.4 and 1:26.2 over the fast track. But as the field of seven turned for home, Rocky Boy called it a day and dropped anchor. BZ Glide, overlooked by the betting public at 9-1, sat the pocket and tipped inside while Ziegfeld went to the outside in the charge to the finish line. BZ Glide ($21.20) under Caprio's encouragement, managed to stick a head in front in the shadow of the wire while Ziegfeld (Ray Fisher Jr.) had to settle for the place spot in a very game effort. Sam Can (Shawn McDonough) got up late for third.
The victory was the third in 14 starts this season for BZ Glide and increased his earnings to $24,086 in 2013 and $34,815 lifetime for owner Caprio. Alana Caprio trains the four-year-old.
Batavia Downs' leading driver Greg Merton and Kevin Cummings each had two wins on the card.
Batavia Downs also played host its popular Wiener Dog Races on Sunday as part of the Family Fun Day and there’s no doubt who the fastest wiener dog in Western New York is, it's definitely Gordon.
Favoured going into the wiener dog races after winning the last two years, Gordon did not disappoint.
Gordon, owned by Lindsay Ryan of Lancaster, powered away from eight other dachshunds to win the Championship final of the annual Wiener Dog Races sponsored by Petco, on Sunday afternoon.
The Championship final was compromised of all nine elimination heat winners. Each heat winner received $25 in gaming free play, but all were vying for the Grand Prize of $100.
However after the race owner Ryan, extremely happy with Gordon’s victory, was hinting of retirement for her fleet-footed canine.
“He’s going to be seven next year and we will have to see what happens, maybe it’s time for Gordon to retire. I’d like to give someone else a chance to win,” Ryan said.
Finishing second two-dog lengths behind Gordon was Daisy, owned by Vernon Marzolf, while Max, owned by Chris Cummings, and Isabella, owned by Victoria Small, tied for third.
Racing will resume on Wednesday night at 6:30 p.m. with the New York State County Fair Finals set with all eight divisions going for $10,000. There will also be a $3,000 Guaranteed Pick 4 starting in the third race. The entire 13-race card will be telecast live on Time Warner Cable, Channel 98 in Rochester and surrounding areas.
(Batavia Downs)