Odds-on favourite Liteningonthebeach made short work of his foes on Monday, Dec. 2, winning the $28,873 Open Handicap Pace at MGM Northfield Park in front-end fashion.
 
As the gate sprung Liteningonthebeach (Aaron Merriman) and One Last Laugh (Billy Davis Jr.) timed the gate perfectly and sprinted away from their foes into the initial turn. While the pair duelled briefly, Liteningonthebeach was able to clear One Last Laugh before entering the backstretch and was comfortably on the lead through an opening quarter of :26.4.

Liteningonthebeach put up a :28.1 second panel and still had not received any pressure with one circuit remaining.

Into the backstretch, Wicked Character (Hunter Myers) was sent to the outside and when the field arrived at three-quarters in 1:23.3, he was within three-quarters of a length of the leader. After setting stiff fractions, Liteningonthebeach put away Wicked Character, but had to brace for a three-wide Back In My Day (Justin Irvine), who had fresh legs turning for home.
 
Through the stretch, Liteningonthebeach dug in, holding off his pursuers to win by 1-1/4 lengths in 1:53.1. Back In My Day rallied to be second, while One Last Laugh battled to be third.
 
The win was the ninth of the year in 33 starts for the four-year-old Downbytheseaside gelding, who is trained by William Bercury and owned by Renee Bercury. The 22-time career winner went over the $400,000 earnings mark in his 60th start.

Liteningonthebeach gave Merriman his sixth driving win on the 16-race card.
 
Live harness racing resumes on Tuesday at 6 p.m.
 
(With files from Northfield Park)