A Delightful Act N, who had mixed results against Open company the past few weeks, finally put it all together on Sunday, Nov. 5 in the $20,000 Filly and Mare Distaff at MGM Northfield Park.
Leaving from post four, A Delightful Act N (Hunter Myers) was fired hard off the gate when the wings sprung, but she had company in the form of Lydeo (Chris Lems), who left to her outside, and Better Days Ahead (Luke Ebersole), who was defending pylon position. Lydeo and A Delightful Act N worked past Better Days Ahead mid-way through the first turn. The pair then duelled into the backstretch, with Lydeo clearing her rivals, but Myers wasn't content to sit the pocket and moved to re-take past a tempid opening quarter of :27.2.
Myers got a breather in the second quarter, getting to the half in :57.1 as A Delightful Act N led a host of pursuers with the outer flow developing in the form of Adashious Hanover (Billy Davis Jr.), Fairies Delight A (Aaron Merriman) and race favourite Creme Delight (Ronnie Wrenn Jr.).
Turning into the backstretch for the final time, Myers stepped on the gas and A Delightful Act N began to create a slight separation on her foes as she got to three-quarters in 1:25.3 and had not been challenged.
Turning for home, A Delightful Act N scampered away from all challengers, winning by two lengths in 1:54.1. Lydeo dug in to be second, while Better Days Ahead finished third.
The victory was the second in a row for the seven-year-old daughter of Bettors Delight who is owned by Schillaci Stables LLC, Sam Bova Racing and John Manning. The victory was her 18th lifetime and pushed her earnings to $315,392.
In racing action involving the Great Lakes Amateur Drivers Association (GLADA), two “senior citizens of harness racing” teamed up to get their first victories in 2023.
Floyd Rhodes, age 76, gave 10-year-old veteran trotter Another Breath what turned out to be superior handling from the second tier and won Northfield Park’s GLADA event on Sunday night, completing the mile in 1:57.1.
Both won for the first time this year with Another Breath getting his first win in 16 starts and Rhodes earning his first visit to the winner’s circle in his 18 drives this semester.
Rhodes' classy trotter, who he also trains for White Oak Horse Farm, was forced to be well off the pace from his second tier and found himself some 14 lengths off the leader at a hot opening quarter in :27.3. Wending his way closer during the next quarter-mile, Rhodes sent the son of Lous Legacy on a double-bubble binge, circled up into second turning for home on the way to a :28.4 kick home for the win.
Golden Genes, handled by Eric Miller, was second, 1-1/2 lengths away, while Golden Compass, driven by Allen Sisco, was next. Admiral Allstar was fourth for Edward Miller while fifth went to Over Six, with Larry Ferrari handling the lines.
It was Golden Genes who sawed off the early fractions in this one, only succumbing to Another Breath once they straightened away.
For Another Breath, it was his 33rd career win, vaulting is lifetime earnings to $585,137.
Off as second choice at 5-2, Another Breath paid $7 to his many faithful.
Live harness racing resumes on Monday, Nov. 6 at 6 p.m.
(With files from Northfield Park & GLADA)