Driver Josh Sutton dominated Monday’s program at Northfield Park thanks to his seven-win performance on the 14-race card.
Sutton, 31, began driving in 2000 and has since garnered 2,373 career victories and is in excess of $13,000,000 in purse earnings. He has posted 140 victories so far this year over Northfield’s Flying Turns, ranking him first in the local driving ranks. Chasing Sutton are: Ronnie Wrenn, Jr. (136), Aaron Merriman (101), Robin Miller (53) and David Lake (50).
Sutton has been driving at Miami Valley on Northfield Park’s nights off and he has been winning there as well. He has 177 driving wins so far in 2014, ranking him as the fourth winningest driver so far this year in North America.
Only Aaron Merriman (211), Ronnie Wrenn, Jr. (197), and Corey Callahan (191) have driven more winners this year than Josh Sutton.
Sutton’s richest win of the night was with Mybrothergeorge, who captured the $9,500 Open Handicap Pace in the evening’s eighth race. Barry Langley trains the five-year-old for Sagamore Hills, Ohio owner Kathleen Wallace.
Mybrothergeorge (Rocknroll Hanover-Armbro Ophelia) started from post three and was fourth through the :27.3 opening quarter. Sutton pulled first-over and sustained a successful bid despite battling for the lead through middle splits of :56 and 1:24.1. Mybrothergeorge secured the lead at the top of the stretch and bested his competition by three-quarters of a length in 1:53.1. Western Churchill was second, with Nathan Feelsgood taking home the show dough.
Monday’s triumph increased Mybrothergeorge’s lifetime win tally to 20 and his earnings to $317,500. He returned $7.00 to win.
In the evening’s co-feature, Kirty Dream trotted to victory in the $9,500 Open Trot. He is trained by Jeff Hochstetler for Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio owner Mario Caponi. Aaron Merriman was aboard for the winning drive.
Kirty Dream (Cantab Hall-Klelia) started from post seven and sat fourth through the :27.2 opening quarter before moving first-over approaching the half. He remained outside through fractions of :57 and 1:25.2, then took the lead in the stretch and completed the mile in 1:55.1. He was an uncontested 2-1/4 lengths in front at the wire. Pembroke Snapshot was next best, with third prize going to Mythical Hall.
Kirty Dream now has 14 career successes and has bankrolled $208,418. He was the race favourite and paid $3.00 to win.
(Northfield Park)