Ronnie Wrenn Jr. posted 714 wins in 2013, 69 more than any other driver in North America. In his quest to repeat as the winningest driver again this year, only one driver stands in his way, his friend and nightly competitor, Aaron Merriman.
Wrenn started Friday (December 26) with 816 wins this year, which trailed Merriman’s win tally by 10. Throughout Northfield Park’s 16-race program, he whittled that lead to five. While Merriman posted three solid wins on the night, Wrenn made eight trips to the winner’s circle.
With five days left in 2014, both Merriman and Wrenn are chasing the driving title. “I have to continue getting horses in the right spots and winning races. We race horses to win, that is what I like to do and that is why I’m in this sport,” explained Wrenn. “A couple of weeks ago I did not like my chances at all. I just wanted the race between Aaron and I to go away, but things have really come together and I have been able to have some really big nights in the last week or so, putting me with a shot to win again.”
Meanwhile, Merriman states that becoming the 2014 National Dash Champion would be icing on the cake for the unbelievable year that he has experienced. “I have worked hard and hustled for a long time,” explained Merriman. “Winning races is great and that it what racing is about, but the experiences I have had this year are indescribable.”
This year has put Aaron Merriman behind the starting gate of the Hambletonian, an elimination of the Little Brown Jug, the Kentucky Futurity, the Canadian Trotting Classic as well as a host of other Grand Circuit and major stake races. In August, Merriman became the youngest inductee into the Northfield Park Wall of Fame.
Merriman has taken Saturday off, while Wrenn has a full slate of drives in the 13-race program at Sports Creek Raceway. Both drivers will be back at the Flying Turns on Sunday, Monday and Tuesday. Neither driver has fully committed, but are both keeping the option open of driving at Sports Creek on Wednesday (December 31), depending on how the numbers stack up between now and then.
(Northfield)