A winner in his most recent start at MGM Northfield Park, Mission Accepted scored another victory on Sunday (Feb. 5) in the $18,000 Open Handicap Trot.

Mission Accepted bided his time early as Predator And Prey and Light Blue Movers dueled through the initial turn. Heading to the quarter, driver Ronnie Wrenn Jr. sent Mission Accepted to the outside, clearing past the quarter in :28.

No one pressured the millionaire through the second quarter of the race. Still, Wrenn didn’t get any breathers hitting the half in :56.3. Into the clubhouse turn, Hunter Myers moved Killer Instinct to the outside to take his shot at the world champion heading to three-quarters in 1:26.1. Dueling with Mission Accepted through the last turn, he was able to turn away his pursuers winning by three-quarters of a length in a sparkling 1:54.4. Killer Instinct battled to be second while Predator And Prey finished third.

Burke Racing Stable, Knox Services Inc, David Wills, and Weaver Bruscemi LLC own Mission Accepted, an eight-year-old Ohio-bred by Manyofmanymissions. He has earned $1,350,521 with 47 victories in 120 starts.

In the co-featured $18,000 Open Pace, fan favourite Bernie rebounded off a second-place finish last week to upset his rivals in 1:51.1.

Zanetti and Bernie both left alertly. Still, the brave warhorse Southwind Amazon was able to get to the front exiting the first turn, heading to the quarter in a quick :26.1. Tharps Jr. had no time to catch his breath as Bettor Than Spring and Bernie began to challenge at the half in :54.2.  

Southwind Amazon was able to fend off pressure from Bettor Than Spring but had to deal with the fresh legs of Bernie, who made a three-wide bid for the lead at three-quarters in 1:22.2. Into the final turn, Bernie was able to muscle past leaders to win easily by three lengths over Southwind Amazon, who dug in for second, while Zanetti battled to be third.

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It was the second win of the year for Bernie, a son of Big Jim who has now made $463,263 for Owner POD Stable LLC and co-owner-trainer Jessica Millner. Ryan Stahl steered the winner.

(Northfield Park)