Northfield Park patrons experienced blazing heat on and off the racetrack on Monday (July 15). Temperatures were hot, but the horses responded well as track record performances were recorded in the evening’s feature trot and pace.

Victory Is Coming lowered Northfield Park’s track record for five-year-old and up trotting mares in the evening’s seventh race, winning the $6,000 Open in 1:54.3. She held the previous record of 1:55.1, set June 3 of this year. Prior to this year, no trotting mare has ever trotted faster than 1:56, and that record was shared by Toms OK Lady (2009, 2010) and Normas Rose (2013).

Betty and John Shaw of Mount Vernon, Ohio own Victory Is Coming. Ammon Hershberger trains and drove the six-year-old.

Victory Is Coming (Victory Sam-Norse Comer-Overcomer) started from post seven and sat fourth through an opening quarter of :27.2. Hershberger tipped her first over approaching the half and inched closer through fractions of :56.4 and 1:25.3. Victory Is Coming took the lead in the final turn and maintained a one length margin of victory in 1:54.3.

Finishing behind Victory Is Coming were Easy Strength, Saintfrancis, Action SJ, Wind Surfer, Lima Legend, Lasent and Lookslikefire. Victor Victory was scratched.

Monday’s triumph increased Victory Is Coming’s lifetime wins tally to 32 and her career earnings to $374,183. She was the favourite and returned $4 to win.

Race eight was Tyber Tyke’s turn to break a track record in the $6,000 Open Pace. He lowered the 1:51 record of Gallo Blue Chip (2001) for four-year-old-pacing geldings by one tick, posting a 1:50.4 stellar performance.

Dorothy Miller of Delphos, Ohio owns Tyber Tyke while Melanie Wrenn is his trainer and Ronnie Wrenn Jr. was the winning driver.

Tyber Tyke (Panspacificflight-Artbeat-Artsplace) started from post seven. Wrenn fired the pacer off the gate and never looked back, posting fractions of :26.4, :54.3, 1:22.3 and 1:50.4, winning by three and a half lengths. Completing the race were Bruisen N Cruisen, Royal Morn, Object Of Art, Beans And Weenies, Chase The Sun, Lite Me Up and Heza Star Cruiser.

Tyber Tyke now has 11 career wins and earnings of $108,592. He was favoured in the win pool and paid $4.60.

(Northfield Park)