Think Of Galaxies continued to assert herself as one of the top mares at MGM Northfield Park on Sunday, Dec. 1, winning the $28,873 Fillies & Mares Open Handicap Pace.
Driver Hunter Myers wasted no time putting Think Of Galaxies into play, firing off the wings with last week’s winner A Delightful Act N (Billy Davis Jr.) on the outside. The pair duelled through much of the initial turn, but A Delightful Act N worked hard to get to the lead and cleared before a blistering :26.4 first quarter.
A Delightful Act N led the field to the half in a leisurely :56.1 with heavy favourite Majors Miracle (Aaron Merriman) applying pressure first-over. Up the backstretch for the final time, Majors Miracle appeared to be stalling, but began to inch forward and got within a half-length of the leader past three-quarters in 1:24.4.
Into the final turn, A Delightful Act N put away Majors Miracle, but Think Of Galaxies was waiting for her in the pocket. Through the stretch, Myers sent Think Of Galaxies to the passing lane, where she cruised by, winning by a neck in 1:54.4. Be My Rose N (Ronnie Wrenn Jr.), who rode second-over cover behind the favourite, closed to be third.
Owned by Ameer Najor and Thunder Racing Stables Inc., the six-year-old daughter of So Surreal, conditioned by leading trainer Cory Kreiser, pushed her lifetime earnings over the $500,000 mark with her 21st career win.
Rebounding from a lackluster start last time out on Nov. 17, she paid $15.60 to win as the 6-1 third choice. The victory was her fourth of the season in the Mares Open at Northfield.
Live harness racing resumes on Monday at 6 p.m. The Pick 5 will have a carryover of $4,001. The $1 wager, beginning in race six, will have an estimated pool of $20,000. There will also be a 50-cent Pick 6 carryover of $2,723 in the eighth race, with the non-jackpot bet boasting a $7,500 USD estimated pool.
The turn of the calendar means a change for live racing at Northfield Park. Following Monday’s card, the Home of the Flying Turns returns to a Tuesday, Wednesday, Saturday and Sunday schedule.
(With files from Northfield Park)