Bronx Seelster (Ronnie Wrenn Jr.) notched his second straight win by capturing the $18,000 Open Handicap Pace on Monday (Feb. 13) at MGM Northfield Park.
Several horses left off the car, but Zanetti (Aaron Merriman) got the jump on the field into the first turn. Wrenn wasted no time putting Bronx Seelster on the clearing in :26.3.
The field remained in single-file order until just before the half when Bernie (Ryan Stahl) and Southwind Amazon (Billy Davis Jr.) began their bids for the lead past the half in :54.4.
Bronx Seelster would face no pressure from the outer flow, getting to three-quarters in 1:23, leading by 1-1/4 lengths. Turning for home, while Bernie tired, Merriman pulled Zanetti out of the pocket but had to settle for second as Bronx Seelster cruised to a one-length win, scoring in 1:51.3. Not Today (Eric Tharps Jr.) rallied to be third, while Southwind Amazon dug in for fourth.
Bronx Seelster earned his fourth win in six starts this season for owners Burke Racing Stable LLC, Weaver Bruscemi and Phil Collura. Trained by Ron Burke, the son of Big Jim has earned $874,396 during his impressive career.
Killer Instinct bided his time, scoring from off the pace in the co-featured $18,000 Open Handicap Trot.
When the wings opened, Eye Ofa Tiger AS (Greg Grismore), Saint K (Kurt Sugg) and Predator And Prey (Billy Davis Jr.) all left quickly into the opening turn. Saint K cleared his way to the lead, entering the backstretch but had to deal with immediate pressure from Predator And Prey, who was able to clear in :27.2.
Mission Accepted (Ronnie Wrenn Jr.), who was parked from the word go, finally cleared around the far turn for the first time.
Coming to the half in :56.1, Wrenn immediately had to deal with a challenge from Light Blue Movers (Aaron Merriman), who made a first-over bid. Heading to three-quarters in 1:25, Killer Instinct was flipped off cover three-wide by Hunter Myers to take dead aim at the leaders.
Light Blue Movers gave way around the last turn, making it a three-horse race coming into the stretch. Killer Instinct wore down Mission Accepted, winning in 1:54.3 by a neck. Mission Accepted dug in to be second, while Predator And Prey finished third.
Owned by Corey Hendricks and trainer Melanie O’Donnell, Killer Instinct has now won 29 of 79 starts and made $240,881; it was the third victory in five starts for the five-year-old by Southwind Frank. He paid $11 to win.
Live harness racing resumes on Tuesday evening at 6 p.m. MGM Northfield Park currently races on Saturday, Sunday, Tuesday and Wednesday.
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