Up Front Kellie Jo was a front-stepping winner in Thursday’s $12,000 Fillies and Mares Open at Northfield Park, much to the delight of the favourite players that backed her at the betting windows.
Sent off at odds of 2-1, Up Front Kellie Jo shot to the lead from Post 6 for driver Keith Kash, Jr., and after rolling the field through fractions of :27, :56 and 1:24.4 the mare finished off her foes with a :29.1 closing quarter. She was a head better than runner-up Stacked Deck in 1:54. Taking home the third prize was Sweetheart Dance.
Ron Steck trains the eight-year-old daughter of Bettors Delight-Lifes Highway for owner Ed Mullinax of Amherst, Ohio and Mark Ford of Campbell Hall, New York. It was the ninth tally of the season for the 47-time winner who lifted her lifetime earnings to $876,969 with the victory.
Longshots Spark Big Returns
Longshot players were rejoicing in the twelfth race at Northfield Park on Thursday when Milliondollarflirt successfully kicked home from the back to win at odds of 67-1.
Macedonia, Ohio’s David Lake owns, trains and drove the six-year-old. It was Milliondollarflirt’s first win this year from 16 starts. The victory was Milliondollarflirt’s eighth lifetime score.
Milliondollarflirt (67-1) was followed across the wire by Corno CC (5-1) and Cin Cardle (80-1).
Milliondollarflirt returned $137.40 to Win. The 7-3 Exacta paid $913.60 and the 7-3-6 Trifecta returned a whopping $14,591.00.
The party continued in Race 15 when Dawn Of New Money barrelled up the lane to reach the wire first at odds of 54-1. Jason Merriman drove for owner/trainer Steve Novak of South Lyon, Michigan. Dawn Of New Money paid $111.40 to Win and led off the $427.60 Exacta and $2,105.20 Trifecta.