Trix And Stones made a repeat visit to the winner's circle on Sunday, April 28 following a game 1:55.2 victory in the $26,712 Open Trot at MGM Northfield Park.
Dont Take My Keys (Ryan Stahl) and Big Bad Caviar (Justin Irvine) both left alertly, duelling for the lead into the opening turn, with Trix And Stones (Ronnie Wrenn Jr.) watching the action in third. As the field moved up the backstretch, 1-2 favourite Dont Take My Keys had to work to clear Big Bad Caviar.
Trix And Stones was chomping at the bit from in third, so Wrenn sent him to the outside to challenge the leader. Dont Take My Keys got the the quarter in :28.3 and duelled with Trix And Stones through much of the second quarter before Trix And Stones finally worked past to the lead at the half in :57.2.
There was no change in position at three-quarters in 1:26.1 as Dont Take My Keys bided his time, saving ground in second. Around the far turn, Stahl sent him outside to take another shot at Trix And Stones, but that son of Trixton had more in the tank, under confident handling, to win by a half-length in 1:55.2. Dont Take My Keys settled for second with Big Bad Caviar finishing back in third.
Trix And Stones is trained by Jodi Schillaci and owned by Schillaci Stables, Sam Bova Racing, John Manning and Matthew Todaro.
"The last two weeks have been very rewarding," said Schillaci following Trix And Stones' second straight victory. "He's a very gutsy horse, and when he doesn't make a break, he is as tough as they come."
The eight-year-old trotter, who is now six-for-14 on the year with 33 career wins, pushed his lifetime earnings to $514,525.
He paid $6.60 to win as the second wagering choice.
Back In My Day (Kurt Sugg) stormed home from off the pace in the co-featured $26,712 Open Pace, winning in upset fashion.
Sugg wasted no time saving ground with Back In My Day, wrestling him into the pocket early as One Last Laugh (Hunter Myers), Mull Of Kintyre (Justin Irvine) and Litneningonthebeach (Aaron Merriman) jostled for position. One Last Laugh managed to work his way to the lead through the opening turn. Irvine tried to take a hole in the pocket into the backstretch, but bettors' choice Mull Of Kintyre wanted to keep rolling, so the pair went to the point, clearing by a wicked :25.4 opening quarter.
Off the contested opening quarter, Merriman sent Liteningonthebeach to the outside around the far turn, bringing Back In My Day with him second over and Vel Mr Nice Guy (Joe Chindano Jr.) third over in the flow. The trio applied pressure to Mull Of Kintyre through another strong fraction of :54.
Mull Of Kintyre continued to the lead up the backstretch. At an eye-popping three-quarters in 1:22, Back In My Day was sent three-wide around Liteningonthebeach, with One Last Laugh a ground-saving third.
Through the stretch, Back In My Day swept past Mull Of Kintyre and held off a passing lane challenge from One Last Laugh to win by three-quarters of a length in 1:51.4. Mull Of Kintyre settled for third.
Owned by Rebecca Sugg and Jessica Roegner, Back In My Day earned his second win from five starts this year. Scoring his 11th career victory, the five-year-old son of Always B Miki pushed his bankroll to $142,583.
He returned $15 for the mild 6-1 upset.
Live harness racing resumes on Tuesday, April 30 at Northfield with a first post of 6 p.m.
(With files from Northfield Park)