Sweet Illousion and driver Dan Noble continued a strong run in the $27,397 Fillies and Mares Open Handicap Pace class at Northfield Park, adding a third consecutive win at the level on Saturday, May 9. 

Winning three consecutive features is always a tall task, but she has now done it from outside posts on the half-mile oval in back-to-back weeks. Even worse, she was parked throughout the first three-quarters of a mile on Saturday. The mare worked her way forward on the outside from post seven through a :26.4 first panel and looked to clear Dixie Dream (Anthony MacDonald) at the half in :55, but the pacesetter kept her parked onto the backstretch before breaking stride and relinquishing command. Sweet Illousion then hit three-quarters in 1:23.2 and dug in to hold off the pylon-shooting Tracknfield (Logan Ebersole) by a neck in 1:53.1 over the sloppy track. High Flyin Filly (Emanuel Miller) was third.

Sweet Illousion started the streak with an impressive four-length score prior to the two gutsy performances from the outside. The five-year-old is now four-for-10 on the year and has won 14 of 54 career outings. She paid $5 to win.

"She certainly earned a week off," said trainer Lionel Watiker. "She is going to spend a few days in the field to reset, but we will be back in two weeks to hopefully make it four in a row."

The daughter of standout sire Sweet Lou and mare Rose Run Skyler was bred by Watiker and is owned by Watiker Racing. Rose Run Skyler, an eight-time winner on the track, foaled a son of Captain Kirk in March.

The featured night of live racing at the "Home of the Flying Turns" got spicier after the Pick-5 went unsolved on Saturday night. The $1 pick-5 wager beginning in Sunday's sixth race has a carryover of $2,552 and features an estimated pool of $20,000. As always, it boasts the low 14 per cent takeout. The Pick-5 is offered in conjunction with the U.S. Trotting Association's Strategic Wagering Program and Ohio Harness Horsemen's Association.

Post time for the 15-race program on Sunday is 6 p.m. Northfield Park currently races four evenings a week on Saturday, Sunday, Tuesday, and Wednesday.

(With files from Northfield Park)