A set of $12,400 Open events – one for pacers and the other for trotters – highlighted Monday’s 15-race card at Northfield Park, with Kirty Dream and Fiftyshadesdarker winning their respective features.
Kirty Dream was impressive in winning the $12,500 Open Trot for Jeff Hochstetler, who trains the seven year-old for owner Mario Caponi of Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio. Aaron Merriman was aboard for the winning drive.
Kirty Dream (Cantab Hall–Klelia) was parked with cover through initial fractions of :28.1 and :56.4. Merriman tipped the trotter three-wide up the backstretch and was trotting the overland route through the 1:26.3 three-quarters. He secured the front in the final turn and trotted away from his competition by four lengths, stopping the timer at 1:56.1. Edit was second, with Easy Strength finishing third.
Monday’s triumph was the eighth win this year for Kirty Dream. It increased his lifetime win tally to 19 and his earnings to $265,459. He returned $5.40 to win.
Fiftyshadesdarker took the evening’s $12,500 Open Pace. Brian Loney owns and trains the winning four year-old and enlisted the driving services of Ronnie Wrenn, Jr.
Fiftyshadesdarker (Bettors Delight–Crystal Slipper) started from post six and virtually led the field from start to finish through fractions of :27.1, :56.1 and 1:25.2 en route to the 1:54.1 score. He was three-quarters of a length better than Hall Of Memories, with Top Of The Mark finishing third.
Fiftyshadesdarker now has five wins in 28 starts this year, nine career successes and a bankroll of $72,585. He was the race favourite and paid $5.40 to win.
The Open Pace was one of six wins on the evening’s program for Northfield Park leading driver Ronnie Wrenn, Jr.
(Northfield Park)