Just 13 days following his track record-tying performance, Smoking Jet put MGM Northfield Park’s Open trotters on notice with a track record and world record-tying 1:52.3 performance on Sunday, May 29.
Leaving from post five, Smoking Jet (Ronnie Wrenn Jr.) was hustled off the gate, quickly opening up 2-1/2 lengths on his foes around the first turn. Getting to the quarter in :27.2, Wrenn continued with a strong pace hitting the half in :55.3, still two lengths over the closest purser Perfect Chapter As (Ryan Stahl). Race and local favourite Winning Shadow began his first-over bid at the half with 5-3/4 lengths to make up heading into the clubhouse turn for the final time.
Moving up the backstretch, Wrenn asked Smoking Jet for a little more and created some separation between himself and Perfect Chapter As as Winning Shadow continued to close.
Winning Shadow engaged Smoking Jet at the three-quarter pole, but he was no match for Smoking Jet, who kicked clear to win by 1-3/4 lengths.
Smoking Jet tied the world record for an older trotting gelding on a half-mile track set by Stormy Kromer on July 31, 2020 at Yonkers Raceway.
Smoking Jet is owned by Burke Racing Stable, Weaver Bruscemi and Southern Ohio driver Chris Page. The five-year-old gelded son of Triumphant Caviar upped his career earnings to $152,252 and now has 15 victories in 73 starts.
Racing at MGM Northfield Park resumes on Tuesday (May 31) with the first post of 6 p.m. The night features a pair of low 14 per cent takeout guaranteed pools, including the $10,000 Late Pick-4 (Race 11) and $10,000 Super Hi-5 (Race 13).
MGM Northfield Park picks up Monday racing beginning Monday (June 6) and will be dark on Tuesdays beginning June 7.
Miller Wins GLADA Trot
Eddie Miller won the $8,000 GLADA Trot on Sunday night at Northfield Park when he reined Cowboy Country to a gate-to-wire victory in 1:58.2.
After starting from the two-hole, Miller sent his charge to the lead and they led Next Woman Up by the quarter in :29.1. Cowboy Country then showed the way past the half in 1:00. However, up the backside, Don Sherman sent Fultons Fury after the leader and they were one-two when they trotted by three-quarters in 1:29.1. When they headed for home, Cowboy Country proved too much for his challenger and he went on to a 1-1/2-length win in 1:58.2. Fultons Fury struggled and lost the place money to Next Woman Up, although he did gain the show dough.
Cowboy Country, a seven-year-old Break The Bank K gelding, is owned by Rebecca Sugg and Steve Maas and is trained by his driver.
Sent postward as the even-money favourite, he paid $4 for the win.
(With files from Northfield Park & GLADA)