Victory Is Coming was first across the wire in the $5,000 Open Trot, and Harvards Z Tam reigned supreme in Monday’s $5,000 Open Pace at Northfield Park.
Ammon Hershberger trains and drove Victory Is Coming to the win for owners Betty and John Red Shaw of Mount Vernon, OH.
Victory Is Coming, a six-year-old daughter of Victory Sam-Norse Comer, started from Post 5 and got away fifth through an open quarter of :28. Hershberger pulled second-over approaching the half of :58.1, tipped three-wide entering the backstretch and tripped the three-quarter beam in 1:28.1. Victory Is Coming won by a convincing 2 ½ lengths and completed the mile in 1:57. Sheriff Tyler was next best with BVs Sister taking home the show dough.
It was the 29th lifetime tally for Victory Is Coming, who pushed her career earnings to $357,683. She returned $11.80 to win.
Harvards Z Tam took the $5,000 Open Pace for trainer Eric Thomas and owner Patrick Groves of Sidney, OH. The six-year-old son of Electric Yankee-Slick Fit started from Post 5 and sat sixth through a blistering opening quarter of :26.3. Driver Chris Page pulled third-over through a half of :56.1 and tipped three deep approaching three-quarters in 1:25.1. Harvards Z Tam took the lead approaching the stretch held on to win by three-quarters of a length over Lite Me Up in 1:53.3. State Of The Union rounded out the top three finishers.
Harvards Z Tam, who paid $8.20, is a 21-time winner who boasts earnings of $128,923.
(Northfield Park)