The Cleveland Trotting Classic, Northeast Ohio’s newest premier race, is scheduled for its inaugural edition on Friday, July 3. The Grand Circuit race is estimated to carry a purse of $180,000 and has drawn an impressive slate of 22 of the best veteran trotters in North America that are eligible to the event.

Market Share leads all eligibles in earnings with $3,684,447. The six-year-old, although winless this year in three starts, has 25 lifetime victories and sports a mark of 1:50.2 at Harrah’s Philadelphia. In 2012, Market Share won the $1.5 million Hambletonian at The Meadowlands, the $1 million Canadian Trotting Classic at Mohawk Racetrack, the $235,000 American National at Balmoral Park and the $108,000 Galt at Maywood Park. In 2013, Market Share won the $543,000 Maple Leaf Trot at Mohawk Racetrack, the $600,000 Breeders Crown at Pocono Downs, the $200,000 American National at Balmoral Park and the $500,000 TVG Free For All Championship at The Meadowlands. Last year, Market Share was successful in the $250,000 Maxie Lee at Harrah’s Philadelphia and the $162,000 Dayton Trotting Derby at Hollywood Dayton Raceway.

Daylon Magician is the other millionaire of the bunch with $1,868,877 to his credit and a lifetime mark of 1:51.1 at Mohawk Racetrack. The seven-year-old has 30 lifetime wins, the richest being the $1 million Canadian Trotting Classic at Mohawk Racetrack in 2011. The trotter already has five wins this year and has not been worse than third in his seven starts so far in 2015.

DWs NY Yank just won a $26,000 Open Handicap at The Meadowlands. That triumph increased his seasonal win tally to five and lifetime victories to 37. The six-year-old hard-hitting Open trotter has garnered career earnings of $853,414 and sports a 1:51.3 mark at Pocono Downs taken in 2013.

Il Sogno Dream, in rein to Northfield Park’s runner-up leading driver, Aaron Merriman, scored in his last outing in a $25,000 Open Trot at Scioto Downs. He has won two of four starts this year. The four-year-old has earned $494,930 with 10 lifetime victories and a 1:52.2 mark taken at Scioto Downs in May of this year.

Natural Herbie also posted a win in his most recent race, a $15,000 conditioned event at Hoosier Park. The five-year-old has 25 lifetime wins including the $200,000 Indiana Sire Stake final in 2012 and 2013 and the $250,000 International Trot Preview at Yonkers Raceway in 2014. Natural Herbie has $771,711 in career earnings and a mark of 1:51.4 taken at The Meadowlands.

Next Friday’s Cleveland Trotting Classic will be well-supported with an undercard featuring multiple $40,000 divisions of Ohio Sires Stakes for freshman filly pacers and trotters. Numerous fan-friendly attractions are on tap, including a t-shirt toss from the winner’s circle by the successful driver of each race, driver meet-and-greets and commemorative poster signings throughout the evening, Harness Racing Bingo offering over $1,000 in cash and prizes, country band Six String Cowboy performing on the apron from 6:00 p.m. until 10:00 p.m., and spinning of the Northfield Park Prize Wheel for cash and prizes from 8:00 p.m. until 9:30 p.m.

Lady Luck’s Clubhouse Restaurant will be offering a $19.95 picnic-themed buffet special. Reservations are preferred and can be made by calling 330-467-4101.

First race post time for the inaugural Cleveland Trotting Classic card is 6:00 p.m. Parking and Admission are always free at Northfield Park.

(With files from Northfield Park)