HAMBURG, N.Y. --- 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.

 

Photo by Steve Roth
BZ Glide gets revenge in Friday's Open 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 with Fisher Jr. also posting a triple.

 

Racing will continue on Saturday night at 6 p.m. with a 10-race card scheduled.