Driver Billy Davis Jr. made short work of competition on Tuesday, Oct. 24, winning six of 15 races at MGM Northfield Park.
Davis kicked off a big night with Stonebridge Hecate ($16.80), making a big mid-race move and taking the lead before the half in :58.1. He stepped on the gas up the backstretch for the final time and the four-year-old Kadabra gelding held off a late rally from Sadodaka (Don McKirgan) to win by a head in 1:58.4. Stonebridge Hecate is owned and trained by Craig Stein.
Two races later, Davis scored with three-year-old Ron Steck trainee Fear My Smile ($6.20). Fear My Smile made the lead and never looked back, setting fractions of :28.3, :58.1, 1:27.1 and finishing things off in 1:57.1. The son of Fear The Dragon is owned by trainer Steck, Mark Taggart and Steven Jefferis.
Favourite Bias Melody ($5.40) gave Davis his next victory, kicking off the Pick-6 in race eight. Leaving alertly from post three, the sophomore filly was parked to an opening quarter of :29.1 by Sweet Painted Lady (Chris Lems). Once making the lead, Davis never let off the gas pedal, winning by three-quarters of a length in 1:59.4. Trainer Scott Linville owns the daughter of Swan In A Million.
Davis had to work a little bit with favourite Rattling Pine ($4.40), as he scored an off-the-pace victory in 1:57.3. Rattling Pine sat off a hot pace set by Rose Run Vincent (David Lake), coming to the half. Davis sent the seven-year-old son of Dejarmbro to the outside, where he quickly moved past leaders, drawing off in the stretch to win by 3-1/4 lengths. George and Rose Bonomo own Rattling Pine, who is trained by Crist Hershberger.
Davis won back-to-back races late in the program with Happierdaysrcomin ($6.20) and Up Helly AA ($8), winning in front-end fashion.
Happierdaysrcomin, a three-year-old American Ideal gelding trained by Jodi Schillaci, was a 1:53.4 winner by 1-1/2 lengths over favourite Kawabunga (Lems). He is owned by Schillaci Stables, Sam Bova Racing, Howard Berke and Vincent Costa Jr.
Up Helly AA, a four-year-old Armbro Barrister gelding, made the lead early in the mile and trotted off by more than four lengths to win in 1:55 flat over favourite Bold Strategy (Kurt Sugg). Cory Kreiser trains the former Maritimes stakes star for current owner Ian Fromowitz.
Davis, who began his driving career in 2007, now has 3,723 victories in 24,640 career drives with more than $30 million in earnings.
The Pick-6 went unsolved again on Tuesday night and will sport a carryover of $1,409.30. Live harness racing resumes on Wednesday, Oct. 25 at 6 p.m..
(With files from Northfield Park)