A return to front-pacing tactics proved beneficial for Bully Pulpit ($7.20), who scampered free of pressure on the far turn and barely held off Windsong Leo in Monday's (June 1) $13,500 Open Handicap Pace at Northfield Park.

In his second start back since racing resumed in Ohio, the seven-year-old pushed to the fore early in line to Dan Noble and cleared Atta Boy Dan (Brady Brown) just beyond a :27 first quarter. Bully Pulpit maintained a vigorous pace of his own volition through a :54.4 half, and was nudged along by the first-over Our Corelli N (Kurt Sugg) to three-quarters in 1:22.2.

While his early pressure came from a 53-1 shot and his mid-race pressure from a 44-1 shot, Bully Pulpit's main rivals — Windsong Leo (Chris Page) and Southwind Amazon (Ronnie Wrenn Jr.) — were perched second- and third-over, respectively. Windsong Leo mounted a three-wide rally on the final turn and 3-2 favourite Southwind Amazon pointed four-wide turning for home, but Bully Pulpit shrugged off Our Corelli N to gain 1-1/2 lengths of clearance off the corner. Southwind Amazon failed to fire, but Windsong Leo overcame his stalled cover to give stout chase — surging to within a neck of Bully Pulpit's 1:51.4 mile. Luis Alberto N (Luke Ebersole) emerged up the pegs from traffic to finish third.

Brian Loney trains Bully Pulpit, a seven-year-old Well Said gelding with 29 career wins to his credit, for Bradley Schwartz.

Havefaithinme N ($4.00) lived up to favoured billing in the sub-featured $11,500 Open II Pace, throwing down the gauntlet to rebuff a late bid from pocket rival Major Nemesis and sprint off to win by 4-3/4 lengths in 1:50.1. Ronnie Wrenn Jr., who recorded his sixth win of the night in the act, drove the nine-year-old Bettors Delight gelding for trainer J.D. Perrin and the partnership of the Blindswitch Racing Stable and Bukers Stable.