High Flyin Filly made her first start after a three-month layoff a winning one on Saturday, March 23 with a strong victory in the $25,000 Fillies & Mares Open Handicap Pace at MGM Northfield Park.
High Flyin Filly (Ronnie Wrenn Jr.) and Ball Diamond (Justin Irvine) both left together entering the first turn, with Ball Diamond defending the pylon position.
High Flyin Filly, who was parked from the word 'go,' continued to pressure Ball Diamond into the backstretch and cleared before a testing :27.2 opening quarter. High Flyin Filly's lead was short-lived, as A Delightful Act N (Hunter Myers) rode her coattails to the lead entering the far turn for the first time.
At the half in :56.3, Shecouldbegood N (Aaron Merriman) began a first-over bid for the lead with Smothastenesewisky (Luke Hanners) right on her back into the clubhouse turn for the final time.
At three-quarters in 1:25.1, A Delightful Act N (Hunter Myers) had fended off all challengers. Still, Smothastenesewisky was making a three-wide bid for the lead with Shecouldbegood N in between horses and High Flyin Filly getting a perfect trip in the pocket.
Turning for home, High Flyin Filly bounded out of the pocket and cruised to an impressive 1-1/4-length victory in 1:54.4. A Delightful Act N was second while Smothastenesewisky was third.
Owned by Burke Racing Stable LLC and Weaver Bruscemi, the four-year-old mare by Domethatagain is trained by Michael Burke.
Live harness racing resumes on Sunday, March 24 with a first post of 6 p.m. The Sunday special gets spicy right away with a $7,142 carryover in the early Pick-4 beginning in race two. The $1 base bet features a player friendly low 14 per cent takeout as well as an estimated pool of $50,000.
MGM Northfield Park currently races on Saturday, Sunday, Tuesday and Wednesday evenings.
(With files from Northfield Park)