Ziegfeld continued to respond to the driving skills of Jim Morrill Jr. as the four-year-old rallied for a head victory over Under The Stars in the $8,000 Open II Trot feature race at Batavia Downs on Friday night.
Morrill Jr., the Universal Driver's Rating System leader in North America with a .411 average, has driven the four-year-old Ziegfeld ($4.70) in three out of his last eight starts and now has produced two wins and a second place finish. Anthony Morgan was originally scheduled to drive, but Morrill Jr. picked up the catch-drive.
Under The Stars (Jim McNeight) set the tone of the race with fractions of :29.1, :59.2 and 1:28.4 over the fast track. Turning for home, it was "catch me if can" time as Under The Stars enjoyed a two-length edge. But Ziegfeld, behind the stalled cover of Perfect Man, tipped to the outside down the lane, and surged late catching Under The Stars just before the wire, winning in 1:58.4. Off The Grid (Dan Noble) finished in third.
The win was the eighth in 36 starts for Ziegfeld, a Broadway Hall gelding. Ziegfeld now has earned $50,982 for the owners, JML Stables of Heathrow, Florida. Gerry Sarama trained the winner.
A 12-race program is scheduled for Saturday evening starting at 6:25 p.m. with the $8,000 Open II Pace the feature, slated for the sixth race. Golden Terror is the 5-2 morning line choice with John Cummings Jr. scheduled for the drive the favourite from the rail.
(With files from Batavia Downs)