Blackhawk Zette romped by three lengths in the $21,528 Open Handicap Trot to top a five-win day for driver Ridge Warren at Tioga Downs on Thursday, Sept. 17.
When last seen at Tioga on Aug. 8, Blackhawk Zette rewarded the betting public, winning the Open Trot as the odds-on favourite. Nearly six weeks later, the five-year-old son of Cantab Hall-Zette Starlet made his return to the Nichols, N.Y. oval and delivered the same result.
Sent off at 2-5, Blackhawk Zette chased Purple Lord and Jim Pantaleano to the opening quarter in :27.3. As the trotters straightened past the grandstand, Warren got aggressive and cleared to the top with Blackhawk Zette.
Warren backed down the half to :57.2 and moved uncontested onto the backstretch. With three-eighths to go, Enola (Mike Merton) pressured Blackhawk Zette while first-over and was half a length behind at three-quarters in 1:25.4. In the final turn, Blackhawk Zette found another gear and drew off impressively to take the feature in 1:54.2. Purple Lord held second with Enola tiring to third.
Blackhawk Zette returned $2.94 to win. He is owned by J L Sadowsky LLC and trained by Robert Baggitt Jr. The stallion is now 20-for-63 lifetime.
Warren also won with Churchview Meow Ir ($5.18), Hugs And Kisses ($3.86), Seven Lick Prise ($6.66) and Vel Who Said ($3.76). The reinsman, who earned his 2,000th career win last month, is 207-for-1,437 this season.
But he got no closer to the lead in the drivers' standings as Braxten Boyd scored six times on Thursday. The 2025 Dan Patch Rising Star Award winner tallied with Core Values ($7.10), Loranga ($3.40), Bellbottom Country ($4.68), April Ava ($2.38), Roger Rabbit ($3.52) and Ms Liz C ($2.34). Boyd, who won six races at Tioga for the second time in six days, has 126 local wins this year and leads Warren by 38. He has 208 victories from 1,441 drives across all tracks in 2026.
Live racing returns to Tioga Downs on Friday, when all end-of-season awards will be distributed. These include Driver of the Year, Trainer of the Year, Pacer of the Year and Trotter of the year, among others. First post is 6:15 p.m. On Saturday, Tioga concludes its summer 2026 season as it hosts the New York Excelsior Series Finals. Fanfare will include a live call to post on electric guitar, the Horse Play truck giveaway and fireworks after the races.
(With files from Tioga Downs)