Betting Line survived a bumpy first over journey and a judges inquiry to capture the third edition of the $300,000 Carl Milstein Memorial Invitational for three-year-old pacers on Saturday night (August 13) at Northfield Park.

The Casie Coleman trainee extended his win streak to eight in a row while making his first start outside of Canada and his first over a half-mile track despite an anxious moment on the final turn.

Sintra (Jody Jamieson) fired first out from post four and secured the pocket spot behind inside leaver Mr Wiggle Pants (Kayne Kauffman), who blazed through a :25.4 first quarter over a track rated "good." Betting Line, the overwhelming 1-5 favourite with David Miller in the sulky, followed in third after a post two start and was flushed first over coming off the turn towards the half when Dontcallmefrancis (Yannic Gingras) began to advance from fifth. Meanwhile, Mr Wiggle Pants continued to lead the field past the mid-way mark in :54.4 and three-quarters in 1:22.3. Betting Line pursued first over and filly Pure Country (Brett Miller) rallied three-wide as Dontcallmefrancis gapped cover on the backstretch. Around the final turn, Betting Line got rough-gaited briefly, but regained his composure and drew away down the stretch to a four-length victory in 1:51 flat. Pure Country came on for second, edging out a from-last Magnum J (Doug McNair) and Mr Wiggle Pants in a photo finish. Sintra rounded out the top-five finish order.

After the race, the inquiry sign was lit as judges reviewed the misstep made by Betting Line, but found no violations of the breaking rule.

"I was just kind of riding with him up the backstretch and he started running in on me there," explained David Miller after the race. "Before he got to that last turn, he got a little uncomfortable and got pinched there and he put the step in then he got through it and took off.

"He's got a high turn of speed and he can carry it a long way. He showed that tonight."

The millionaire son of Bettors Delight out of Heathers Western is now eight-for-nine on the year, with his win streak including the Somebeachsomewhere Stakes, North America Cup and three Ontario Sires Stakes Gold events. The Milstein victory boosted his seasonal earnings to $887,000 for the West Wins Stable of Cambridge, Ont., Christine Calhoun of Chatham, Ont. and Mac Nichol of Burlington, Ont.

"He had a lot of firsts tonight: first time I shipped him, first time he's in the States, first time on a half," noted Coleman from the winner's circle. "I warmed him up earlier than I normally do and there was quite a long delay so I was a little worried about that also, but he raced great. I obviously just have to get corrected what he did in the last turn there. We're going to a [half-mile track] in the Little Brown Jug so I've got to fix that, but he was just tremendous. Dave said he had all kinds of pace, he was just trying to baby him around the turn and then let him go and he was just awesome."

Coleman said Betting Line will ship home to Canada on Sunday and return stateside for next weekend's Battle of the Brandywine at The Downs at Mohegan Sun Pocono.

Leading up to the Milstein, the inaugural $50,000 Myron Charna President’s Pace was won by Dancin Yankee in 1:51.3. The eight-year-old son of Yankee Cruiser was driven by Brett Miller for trainer Josh Green and owners Richard Lombardo of Solon, Ohio and L And J Racing LLC of Horsham, Pennsylvania. The Charna will be an annual event for Ohio-sired pacers that are four years old and up.

Brown Doubles Up In Ohio Sires Stakes

Three $40,000 divisions Ohio Sires Stakes (OHSS) for three-year-old pacing colts and geldings were contested during Saturday's undercard at Northfield Park, with trainer Brian Brown harnessing two of the victors.

A total of 21 laterally-gaited equines went postward in the fourth leg of the series for Buckeye-sired sophomores, with Brown tightening the girth on division one winner Whataboy and third division winner Friskie Cruiser.

Even-money favourite Whataboy used a three-wide move down the Northfield backstretch to charge ahead of Rocknroll Wildcats (Brett Miller) and World Of Gaming (Danny Noble), who had been duelling through fractions of :27.3, :57.1 and 1:24.2. Driver Ronnie Wrenn Jr. urged the son of Big Bad John, who took command to sweep under the wire first in 1:53.

The win pushed Whataboy's seasonal earnings to $93,880 and his career earnings to $136,554. Whataboy now has four wins this year in 13 starts and five lifetime victories in 22 trips postward.

Canadias Bakin finished second, while Little Woody got up for third.

Whataboy was bred by the Dm Stables of Naples, Florida and is owned by Carl Howard of Powell, Ohio, Gerrie Tucker of Montreal, Que., and RBH Ventures Inc. of New York City.

Friskie Cruisier and driver Kayne Kauffman held off multiple challenges throughout their division to win in 1:54 under wraps. The son of Feelin Friskie paced strong through panels of :27.1, :56.2, and 1:24.3 to notch career win five in his 17th lifetime start.

Gotmoneyinmypocket notched second, while Smoke Up Johnny garnered show honours.

Owned by breeder Stephen Sexton of Xenia, Ohio, Friskie Cruiser now has $189,121 in his career bank account with $48,500 earned this year.

Trainer Ron Burke sent 1-9 favourite Winwood Mac postward in the second OHSS division and the Canyon Wind gelding responded with a front-stepping 1:51.3 victory. Winwood Mac paced briskly through fractions of :27.2, :56 and 1:23.4 without incident for driver Chris Page.

Winna Winna finished second, with Hustling Charley getting up for third.

The win was Winwood Mac’s fourth of the season in 14 starts and pushed his 2016 earnings to $99,065 for owners Burke Racing Stable LLC of Frederickstown, Pennsylvania, Weaver Bruscemi LLC of Cannonsburg, Pennsylvania, and Phillip Collura of Mountain Township, Pennsylvania. He was bred by the Michigan-based Winwood Farm and now has $137,548 in his career coffers.

(With files from Northfield Park and OSDF)