Up Front Kellie Jo captured Thursday’s $9,500 Fillies and Mares Open Pace at Northfield Park, and the victory proved to be one of five on the card for driver Josh Sutton.

Starting from Post 6, Up Front Kellie Jo started from post six and was content to sit in the middle of the pack while her competition carved out fractions of :27.2, :55.3 and 1:25. Sutton called on Up Front Kellie Jo in the final quarter and she surged to the lead and bested her competition by two lengths in 1:55.2. Clear Character grabbed the runner-up award, with Y Mach Me taking home the show dough.

It was the 40th lifetime win for the eight-year-old daughter of Bettors Delight-Lifes Highway. Rob Harmon trains the career winner of $831,369 for owners Ed Mullinax and Mark Ford. She returned $22.40 to win.

As for Sutton, he also posted victories with Alhambra Bokay ($4.80) in race six, Bluebird Jettart ($14.20) in race nine, Braggin Hanover ($10.80) in race 10 and Doowrah Double ($17.00) in race 11.

(With files from Northfield Park)