Mythical Hall was a repeat winner of Northfield Park’s $12,000 Open Handicap Trot on Monday, June 2.
Andy Rickert trains the six-year-old for Mark Jakubik of West Seneca, New York. Aaron Merriman, the 2014 leading driver in North America, was aboard for the winning drive.
Mythical Hall (Andover Hall-Myth-Lindy Lane) started from Post 8. He fired from that outside post, went right to the front and never looked back. He led his competition through fractional times of :27.4, :56.2 and 1:25.3 before hitting the wire in 1:55.4. Nearing the wire, Mythical Hall’s competition was charging, but he held off his foes by a head at the finish. Completing the race were Heza Rube, Edit, Rush N Supreme, Ill Tell You What, Wind Surfer, Rebel Strike, Rose Run Logan and Arianna Hall.
Monday’s triumph was the fourth win this year in 13 starts for Mythical Hall. It increased his lifetime win tally to 22 and his earnings to $366,363. He returned $18.60 to Win.
In the evening’s 11th race, Roadside Delight captured the $12,000 Open Handicap Pace. He is trained by Tyler Nostadt for Pine Grove Stables of Parkman, Ohio. Wyatt Irvine drove the six year-old to victory.
Roadside Delight (Bettors Delight-Road Sign-Life Sign) started from Post 2. He let his competition set the early fractions (:27, :54.4) before taking the lead in the third quarter. Once he cleared to the front, Roadside Delight continued to extend his lead. He passed the three-quarters of a mile marker in 1:23.2 and hit the wire in 1:52.1, besting his competition by five and a quarter lengths. Completing the race were Mybrothergeorge, Goodnite Goodluck, Eddie Sweat, JS Tango, Irish Elitist, Rockin Finish and Cashem In. Smarter Yet was scratched.
Roadside Delight now has six wins in 14 starts this year, 23 career successes and a bankroll of $309,776. He paid $9.80 to Win.
The remainder of the card was dominated by Northfield Park leading driver, Josh Sutton, who drove seven winners on the Monday program. Sutton’s winners included Gale Force Hanover ($2.20) in Race 1, Jumpin Jack J ($4.40) in Race 2, Chase The Sun ($3.60) in Race 4, Dungeon Dragon ($4.00) in Race 7, Forever Good ($5.00) in Race 9, Fortunes Jenna ($5.80) in Race 13 and Cry For Cash ($3.60) in Race 14.
Sutton, 32, began driving in 1998 and has since garnered 2,471 career victories and is approaching $14 million in purse earnings. He has posted 215 victories so far this year over Northfield’s ‘Flying Turns,’ which tops the local driving ranks.
Sutton also drives at other racetracks where he has been winning races at an impressive rate as well. In total, Sutton has garnered 275 wins so far in 2014. Those wins rank him as the third winningest driver in North America so far in 2014. Only Aaron Merriman (311) and Ronnie Wrenn Jr. (277) have more driving wins this year than Josh Sutton.
(Northfield)