Waitforever N continued to assert herself as the top female pacer at MGM Northfield Park on Friday night (Jan. 13), earning her third straight victory in the $18,000 Filly and Mare Open.
Leaving from post eight, Waitforever N (Aaron Merriman) couldn’t make the lead as quickly as she had in weeks past. Also leaving alertly from the inside was second choice Kat (Ronnie Wrenn Jr.) and Adorabella (Hunter Myers).
Myers hustled Adorabella off the wings early, moving into the backstretch, and worked hard to stretch out Kat and Waitforever N, who was three-wide. Kat was able to clear Adorabella before the quarter in :27.1, but Merriman would put Waitforever N on the lead heading into the far turn for the first time.
Merriman wasn’t able to get much of a breather with the favourite after hitting the half in :55.2; the challenges began in the form of stablemate Diamondtequilashot (Billy Davis Jr.) and Asante Sana A (Jason Thompson). While the stablemates duelled up the backstretch, Kat gave way from the pocket, allowing Asante Sana A to save ground past three-quarters in 1:23.1.
Through the stretch, Asante Sana A and Diamondtequilashot took shots at the leader, but Waitforever N was strong on the lead and won by a head in 1:52.3. Early leaver Adorabella finished fourth.
Trained by Bill Rhoades, Waitforever N is owned by D Racing Stable Inc., Donald Mac Rae and Kapildeo Singh. The six-year-old mare has now earned $110,981.
Racing at MGM Northfield Park continues on Sunday, with a 15-race program. The card features a $10,000 guaranteed Pick-4 (Race 11) and a $10,000 guaranteed Super High-5 (Race 13). Free past performances for both wagers can be found on the Trackmaster website. Sunday’s post time is 6 p.m.
Zanetti streaks into Sunday's Open
Unraced at two, Zanetti has consistently shown throughout his career that he has a lot of talent if he was able to focus. Focus is what he has done in 2023, kicking off his seven-year-old season with two straight victories at MGM Northfield Park, a streak he looks to extend on Sunday.
Zanetti, who has one of the most prominent personalities in the Bill Rhoades barn, has taken a liking to Northeast Ohio, seemingly improving with every start.
In his first start from post seven, he closed from off the pace, and while he finished third, he paced hard through the wire.
Zanetti has shown that he can close from off the pace and leave hard off the gate, mixing it up is what his connections do to keep him from getting bored.
“We still have to switch his rigging up all the time to keep him interested; Bill [Rhoades] will tell you he loves getting attention in the barn,” said owner Richard Magee.
On Sunday, Zanetti will face a tall task stepping up in class to take on some of Northeast Ohio’s finest in the $18,000 Open, but his connections don’t think that we have seen the best of their talented gelding.
“We haven’t seen the bottom of him yet; there’s not a time he comes off the track and seems tired,” said Magee.
Throughout his career, he has earned $153,621 with 20 victories in 102 career starts.
Leaving from post three, Zanetti will take on Cool Man Dude (Billy Davis Jr.), Lyons Friends (Kody Massey), Fly Charley Fly (Chris Lems), Prince Of Tides (Hunter Myers), Bernie (Ryan Stahl) and Rockn Motion (Ronnie Wrenn Jr.).
Looking to showcase their talents in the $18,000 Open Handicap Trot will be shippers Combs Hanover (Wrenn Jr.) and Locatelli (Anthony MacDonald).
Combs Hanover earned a victory over the flying turns on Dec. 26 in off-the-pace fashion. After that effort, he went to The Meadows and made a mid-race move at the half and never looked back, earning a 2-1/2 length victory in 1:53.4. On Sunday, Combs Hanover will have to leave from post eight.
In the barn of trainer Ron Burke and owners Burke Racing Stable LLC, Weaver Bruscemi LLC, Frank Canzone and Larry Karr, the talented gelding has earned $292,060 scoring 14 victories in 51 career starts.
Locatelli will try to avenge his loss to Combs Hanover on Sunday evening.
One of his more impressive victories was a 1:50.4 track record-equalling score against Preferred company at Woodbine Mohawk Park.
While he hasn’t won since shipping back, trainer Jason McGinnis has a lot of confidence in his gelding.
“He is a classy gelding who should fit well against this group,” said McGinnis. “He had two very good starts at The Meadows and should continue to improve this week.”
Looking to upset the two invaders are Chasin Dreams (Chris Lems), Fashion Chocolate (Billy Davis Jr.), Winnerup (Ryan Stahl), Fingals Wave (Don Sherman), Predator And Prey (Hunter Myers) and Light Blue Movers (Aaron Merriman).
(With files from Northfield Park)