On a night when 13 different trainers found their way to the winner's circle at MGM Northfield Park, leading dash trainer Ron Burke swept the featured events with a pair of Ontario-breds.
Burke, who was only one of two trainers to double up on Sunday, March 9, got things rolling in the $27,143 Open Handicap Trot, with Oh Look Magic (pictured above) and driver Justin Irvine prevailing as the heavy favourites.
Several horses were put into play early, with Son Of Sona (Keith Kash Jr.) making the lead and outside assignee Oh Look Magic caught very wide into the initial turn. Into the backstretch, Son Of Sona, who was dismissed by the betting public after winning at long odds last week, made his way to the front. Irvine was able to guide Oh Look Magic into the two-path but had to work hard to clear Son Of Sona, who was aggressively driven through a :28.3 first quarter.
Irvine was able to get a breather in the second quarter, opening up a 1-3/4-length advantage to the half in :58. There was never an anxious moment from there for Irvine, who was on autopilot in the final half-mile, as Oh Look Magic hit three-quarters in 1:26.4 and drew off to win by 2-1/2 lengths in 1:57 under confident handling. Open Bar (Chris Lems) battled on to be second, while Nothingbutadreamer (Nick Clegg) closed for third.
Making his Northfield debut, Oh Look Magic earned his 15th career victory and the five-year-old Lookslikeachpndale-Miami Magic gelding pushed his lifetime earnings to $532,673. He is owned by Burke Racing Stable and Weaver Bruscemi.
Night Shadow made it two in a row in the $27,857 Open Handicap Pace, with Hunter Myers getting a front-end trip from post seven for this Burke trainee.
Myers wasted no time putting Night Shadow into play, duelling with Cyclone Banner N (Anthony MacDonald) into the first turn. Into the backstretch, Cyclone Banner N was on the muscle, but Night Shadow elected to keep coming on the outside, finally clearing through a :27.2 first quarter.
After a :56.4 half, Night Shadow began to brace for challengers with Back In My Day (Luke Ebersole) first-over and Pocket The Cash N (Chris Lems) both applying pressure.
Up the backstretch for the final time, Night Shadow continued to cruise on the front end, with the action heating up behind him. At three-quarters in 1:25.1, Night Shadow appeared to kick clear from the challengers, but around the final turn, Back In My Day continued to fight him, coming up just short in the final strides as Night Shadow won by 1-1/2 lengths in 1:53.4. Pocket The Cash N finished third third.
Also owned by Burke Racing Stable and Weaver Bruscemi, the six-year-old gelding by Shadow Play out of Sexyandinotdevie is now five-for-six competing against Northfield Open company this year. The 28-time career winner lifted his bankroll to $368,754.
Chris Lems picked up a grand slam on the night, starting things off early with Bettor In Cash ($4), winning in a big way for trainer Tom Hall. Lems continued his winning ways in three legs of the Pick-5 sequence, all with longshot winners. Camouflage Money ($12.80), Bet On Blake ($65.40) and Dragon Candy ($9.80) all scored during the Pick-5, which paid a whopping $7,673.30 to one lucky winner.
Others with multiple wins on the 15-race card were feature race winning drivers Irvine (three) and Myers (two) along with Aaron Merriman (three).
Live harness racing resumes at Northfield on Tuesday, March 11 at 6 p.m.
(With files from Northfield Park)