Many storylines were in play leading to the $200,000 Battle of Lake Erie on Saturday (June 10). The most significant storyline of the week happened to be Lauren Tritton, as she would try to become not only the first female to participate in Northfield's storied event, but the first to win it. Tritton proved naysayers of her talent wrong with a heart-stopping performance, scoring an impressive win with Lochinvar Art A.
The race was immediately turned on its head, with Backstreet Shadow making a break before the start. As the gate opened, Ruthless Hanover left alertly down the center of the racetrack with Leonidas A and Little Rocket Man trying to defend inside position. Still, as they entered the first turn, Ruthless Hanover got rough momentarily, made a break, and was taken out of contention.
With the race's complexion changing, Leonidas A inherited the lead with This Is The Plan, avoiding trouble in second. Getting to the quarter in :26.4, Leonidas A tried to get a breather, but Little Rocket Man immediately began to apply pressure after tipping from third, bringing Lochinvar Art A with him.
"I didn't necessarily want to be parked out from the quarter but knew I had to get off the pylons," said an ecstatic Tritton following the race.
Getting to the half in :54.2, Leonidas A was up by three-quarters of a length, with Little Rocket Man continuing to grind first over. The field was double-tiered, with four in and four out heading into the clubhouse turn for the final time. Not much changed into the backstretch, and heading to three-quarters, Tritton tipped Lochinvar Art A three deep as Little Rocket Man began to back through the field.
At three-quarters in 1:21.4, Leonidas A braced for the challenge of Lochinvar Art but was overtaken at the head of the lane. Lochinvar Art A got to the lead and, through the stretch, drew off to win by 1-1/2 lengths in 1:50. Charlie May closed strongly to be second, while Leonidas A tired and finished third.
"It was all him tonight, he was getting tired on the corner a little bit and he just kicked into another gear," said Tritton. "He's a champion."
Husband Shane echoed her sentiments, "The horse is so great; we have been waiting for this moment since being in the country."
Shane Tritton credited his wife's drive for the victory, saying, "I'm so proud of her; I wouldn't be here without her."
Owned by Team Tritton Inc., Lochinvar Art A set a lifetime mark with the win and pushed his career earnings to $1,285,493.
Backstreet Shadow pulled up shortly after the start. Speaking with trainer Travis Alexander following the race, he said, "We're unsure of what happened, but he is okay."
The full card from Saturday at Northfield is available below, followed by recaps of the undercard events. Clicking 'play' will start the stream just before the Battle of Lake Erie final.
Violets Rainbow Stands Ground In $50,000 MGM Buckeye Distaff
While driver Matt Kakaley didn’t have much luck in the Battle of Lake Erie with Backstreet Shadow, he rebounded with Violets Rainbow in the $50,000 MGM Buckeye Distaff at MGM Northfield Park on Saturday.
Kakaley, who had to work hard to get to the lead, wasted no time putting Violets Rainbow into play early, tackling McMarkle Sparkle, who defended pylon position early, into the backstretch. Getting to the half in :55.2, Ocean Music began to apply pressure into the clubhouse turn for the final time.
Into the backstretch, Violets Rainbow kept foes at bay, leading by a length to three-quarters in 1:23. As the field turned into the stretch, Kakaley kicked clear, putting away rivals to win by 1-3/4 lengths in 1:51. McMarkle Sparkle tried to rally but finished second, with Love Me Hill closing to be third.
Owned by Ian Fromowitz of Canada, Violets Rainbow, a daughter of Art Official, pushed her career earnings to $308,304, scoring her 18th victory in her career. Jared Bako trains the winner.
Jet Hill Sets World Record In Ohio Sires Stakes Action
Jet Hill smashed the world record for three-year-old gelded trotters on a half-mile track on Saturday night at MGM Northfield Park in Ohio Sires Stakes action. Jet Hill blistered the flying turns in 1:52.2, breaking the old record of 1:53.1 set by Yes at Northfield Park in 2019.
Jet Hill with Ronnie Wrenn Jr. blasted off the gate covering the first quarter in :27.2 on the way to a gate-to-wire victory in the $55,000 second leg of the Ohio Sires Stakes.
It was the fourth win in as many starts for the son of What The Hill. Trained by Edward Miller and owned by Serenity Racing Stable, Jet Hill pushed his earnings this year to $88,000.
John Dutton was second with Grand Revival third.
In the first division, Jogging Full Trot and Tony Hall fired down the lighting lane and reeled in favourite John Dutton to win by a length in 1:54.3.
Jogging Full Trot is trained by Miles Wollam and owned by Julie Ann and Dale Sweet, and Martin Wollam. The win was the third in five starts for the son of Full Count who raised his earnings this year to $56,200.
Rumble Strips finished second with Chapter Twelve third.
Ohio Harness Horsemen’s Association Charity Night A Huge Success
Keys to Serenity left MGM Northfield Park on Saturday night with big smiles and a cheque for $10,000 as the winner at the Ohio Harness Horsemen’s Association’s third charity night of the year. Nine Cleveland area charities benefited from the generosity of the Ohio horsemen.
The charities participating in the event were each paired with a horse in the fourth race. Each charity received a donation from the association for participating, with the top three finishers receiving larger donations. First place received $10,000, second place received $5,000 and third place received $3,000. All other finishers received $2,000 donations.
Keys to Serenity cheered home the Kelly O'Donnell trainee Fear The Britches with Chris Lems to claim victory. Fear The Britches, the 3-5 favourite, grabbed the lead heading the half and hung on down the stretch to win by three-quarters of a length in 1:54.3.
Keys to Serenity provides totally free programs and events for children impacted by addiction in their lives to give them a day of love and connection and provide a sense of connection so they know they are not alone.
JMs Determination with Aaron Merriman finished second for Hattie Larlham Center for Children with Disabilities and earned the charity $5,000, while Madam Mercury with Ryan Stahl finished third for the Spur for the Cure, which received $3,000.
The other charities represented were the A Kid Again – Northern Ohio, By Dawn’s Early Light, The Emergency Assistance Center, Forever Friends Foundation, Love Doesn’t Shove, and Working Animals Giving Service for Kids.
A total of $30,000 was donated to the charities by the Ohio Harness Horsemen’s Association.
Live harness racing resumes on Sunday evening at 6 p.m. (EDT).
(with files from Northfield Park and OHHA)