Marion Marauder, 2016 Trotting Triple Crown winner, has been installed as the 2-1 morning line favourite for the $175,000 Cleveland Trotting Classic, which will be contested this Saturday night (June 30) at Northfield Park.
Co-owned by Ontario residents Marion Wellwood and Devin Keeling, and trained by Ontario-based Paula Wellwood, Marion Marauder will start from Post 2 in the accomplished field of eight veteran trotters. Ohio native Jordan Stratton will travel home from his current base of New York state to drive the winner of over $2.6 million. A five-year-old son of Muscle Hill, Marion Marauder rose to prominence during his three-year-old campaign in 2016 by sweeping trotting’s Triple Crown: the $1,000,000 Hambletonian at The Meadowlands, the $500,000 Yonkers Trot at Yonkers Raceway and the $431,000 Kentucky Futurity at The Red Mile. Marion Marauder is the only Hambletonian champion to race at Northfield Park in the past quarter century.
Main competition in Saturday’s feature event may come from 2017 Cleveland Trotting Classic champion Crazy Wow. The Ron Burke trainee and $2.2 million career earner tied the all-age Northfield trotting track record of 1:52.3 while winning last year’s event. Millionaire Homicide Hunter and multiple stakes winners In Secret and Will Take Charge will also see heavy support at the betting windows.
The Cleveland Trotting Classic is the featured event on a 16-race card Saturday night with a first race post time of 6:00 p.m. Eastern. It will be race 11, with an approximate post time of 9:55 p.m. Top events on the undercard will be four $25,000 finals of the Spring Late Closing Series. A $7,500 Guaranteed Pick 4 pool beginning in race eight and ending with the Cleveland Trotting Classic tops the wagering menu.
Live music by The One Hit Wonders and multiple prize giveaways will keep the grandstand busy, while culinary offerings include the Melted Fusion Food Truck on the track apron, a $19.95 Cleveland Trotting Classic buffet in Lady Luck’s clubhouse and concession stand specials. Call 330-467-4101 for clubhouse reservations.
The field for the $175,000 Cleveland Trotting Classic, with drivers and morning line odds, is as follows:
1. In Secret (Ronnie Wrenn Jr., 7-2)
2. Marion Marauder (Jordan Stratton, 2-1)
3. Another Breath (TBA, 15-1)
4. I Know My Chip (Greg Grismore, 12-1)
5. Dia Monde (Mike Wilder, 20-1)
6. Crazy Wow (Chris Page, 8-1)
7. Homicide Hunter (Aaron Merriman, 4-1)
8. Will Take Charge (Jim Morrill Jr., 6-1)
(Northfield Park)