The field is set for the $300,000 USD Grade 2 Carl Milstein Memorial on Saturday, Aug. 15, and one of the sport’s most prominent young pacers will arrive at Northfield Park looking to make his three-year-old breakthrough on the Grand Circuit.

Melillo, a member of trainer Ron Burke’s powerhouse stable, figures to be among the horses to beat when the stars line up for Northeast Ohio’s premier sophomore pacing event. He was installed as the 7-5 morning-line favourite by Director of Racing Dave Bianconi.

The talented son of Sweet Lou-Rosemary Rose has been knocking on the door of a major Grand Circuit victory all season, and he will get another opportunity to claim his first this year on Saturday with Ronnie Wrenn Jr. in the sulky.

Melillo enters the Milstein after back-to-back runner-up finishes behind his stablemate Al Papi in both his Delvin Miller Adios elimination and the final. In the Adios final, Al Papi powered to a 1:48.1 victory at The Meadows, with Melillo right there by a head after chasing him to the wire.

The Adios was the latest chapter in a season in which Melillo has taken on several major tests. He finished fourth in both the Meadowlands Pace and the MGM Grand Messenger Stakes, while also recording a fifth-place finish in the North America Cup. 

Wrenn will also be looking to add the Milstein to his list of major victories. Wrenn has already established himself as one of Ohio's premier reinsmen and has been aboard Melillo through much of the colt's campaign, including his runner-up finish in the Adios final.

Ontario-based trainers will send two entrants to the race, with Dave Menary's Borderline Mobby and John Pentland's Redland Rocket Man set to contest the Grade 2 event. Borderline Mobby, a son of Cattlewash-Hot Gossip, is in strong form, with two wins and three seconds in his last five starts. Dan Noble is listed to drive the gelding, an Ontario Sires Stakes Gold winner this year, from post six. Redland Rocket Man, fresh off his Canadian-record 1:48.2 win in an Ontario Sires Stakes Gold at Grand River Raceway, will start from post seven. Todd McCarthy is listed to steer the son of Bulldog Hanover-Granny Hanover.

The field for the Milstein Memorial is below.

$300,000 USD Carl Milstein Memorial (Grade 2)
Post - Horse - Listed Driver - Trainer
1. Fire Run - Atlee Bender - Erv Miller
2. Melillo - Ronnie Wrenn Jr. - Ron Burke
3. Ballroom Affair - Dan Noble - Joe Bongiorno
4. C Millertimeagain - Corey Callahan - Molly Gara
5. Myboypank - Marvin Luna - Tony Alagna
6. Borderline Mobby - Dan Noble - Dave Menary
7. Redland Rocket Man - Todd McCarthy - John Pentland
8. Tsunami Seas - David Miller - Virgil Morgan Jr.
9. Aces And Cinches - Yannick Gingras - Ron Burke

(With files from Northfield Park; photo of Melillo winning on Sept. 26, 2025)