The 39th edition of the “War on the Shore,” the $200,000 USD Battle of Lake Erie (Grade 2) at MGM Northfield Park, drew the who’s who in the sport of harness racing, with nine of the top aged pacers taking centre stage at the Ohio oval on Saturday, June 7.
“Top to bottom, this is one of the greatest fields to race in Northfield Park’s long standing stakes event,” said Dave Bianconi, Director of Racing. “It is truly a wide open field, with all nine horses well deserving of an invitation.
With more than $2.5 million in career earnings, Bythemissal returns to the “Home of the Flying Turns,” a racetrack where he has had a lot of success throughout his career. With victories in some of the sport’s top races, including the Carl Milstein Memorial, Little Brown Jug and Breeders Crown, North America's leading trainer Ron Burke is looking forward to trying to add the Battle of Lake Erie to Bythemissal’s resume.
“'Missal' has won just about everything there is to win at Northfield Park, but this race has eluded him,” said Burke. “In the Auger last week, he really had to work hard to fight off Spring Inhis Step A and Mossdale Ben N. He showed he has the heart of a champion.”
After a lightly raced five-year-old campaign in 2024, the Burke trainee is yet to miss the board in 2025, with a third-place finish in the Pacey Mindlin Memorial at Miami Valley Raceway and with victories against Open company at Scioto Downs and in the Joe Auger Memorial at Harrah’s Philadelphia.
While the connections of Bythemissal are looking forward to Saturday, they know he will have a tall task in front of him.
“The Battle historically is one of the toughest races of the year,” said Burke. “This year is no different. It is a loaded field, with some of the sport's best. It's going to be tough to win.”
The field includes former Horse of the Year and double millionaire Desperate Man, coming off a victory on the Philly Super Sunday card in the #SendItIn Invitational Pace for trainer Travis Alexander and owner Kathy Cecchin of Arthur, Ont.
In 2024, the Battle of Lake Erie did not go Desperate Man’s way. Desperate Man made a miscue in the first turn, but the talented son sired by Shadow Play dug in late making up a lot of ground and finishing third, only beaten by three-quarters of a length. Desperate Man rebounded nicely to finish the year with victories in the Robert J. Kane Memorial at Batavia Downs and the Aria Invitational at Yonkers Raceway.
The talented field also features the MGM Borgata Pacing Series champion Mossdale Ben N, who earned a spot in the field with a victory in the Grade 1 event at Yonkers Raceway. Mossdale Ben N took a couple weeks off following that performance and followed it up with a third-place effort in the Auger.
“I would’ve liked to be a little closer in the Auger,” said trainer Peter Tritton. “I wasn’t expecting much out of him in that race, but I was very happy with how it ended up."
Tritton, who won the 2018 Battle of Lake Erie with Bit Of A Legend N, would love to win the storied event once again.
“We’d like to keep it in the family,” laughed Tritton, referring to his son Shane and daughter-in-law Lauren winning the 2023 edition with Lochinvar Art A. “It would be amazing to win again. Bit Of A Legend N won from post five. The draw fits Mossdale Ben N very well.”
Little Rocket Man will try to do what only Jaguar Spur (1988, 1989) and Peruvian Hanover (2002, 2003) have done and that is win the Battle of Lake Erie in back-to-back seasons. While the defending champion drew post eight in this year’s event, he has proven his ability to win from the outside. He came from out of the clouds in 2024, with a four-wide sweeping move around the final turn, storming home to win by a half-length in 1:52.4.
Also competing in Saturday’s Battle of Lake Erie is local favourite and earner of more than $965,000 Dunkin, Breeders Crown and Little Brown Jug runner-up Seven Colors, Pennsylvania-based speedster Ken Hanover, million-dollar earner Chase H Hanover and New Zealand import Helium N.
$200,000 USD Battle Of Lake Erie (Grade 2)
Post - Horse - Listed Driver - Trainer
1. Dunkin - Aaron Merriman - Scott DiDomenico
2. Seven Colors - Aaron Merriman - Andrew Harris
3. Ken Hanover - Brett Miller - Roland Mallar
4. Desperate Man - Matt Kakaley - Travis Alexander
5. Mossdale Ben N - Jordan Stratton - Peter Tritton
6. Bythemissal - Chris Page - Ron Burke
7. Chase H Hanover - Aaron Merriman - Cory Stratton
8. Little Rocket Man - Jeremy Smith - Ken Rucker
[9. Helium N - Dan Noble - Christi Noble
The stacked Saturday undercard is highlighted by the $75,000 USD MGM Buckeye Distaff. The invitational for Ohio-sired mares, four-year-olds and up, showcases some of the top talent the Buckeye State has to offer.
Burke will pack a one-two-punch in the undercard feature with Fearless Ginger and Naked On A Hill, both taking a swing at the top prize.
Fearless Ginger earned $53,860 in her freshman campaign, all without a victory, although she hit the board in six of her eight starts. Returning to the races at three, Fearless Ginger broke her maiden in a leg of the Almahurst Series at Eldorado Scioto Downs. Things started to go her way at the end of her 11-win three-year-old season. After making a break in the Courageous Lady at Northfield, she shipped to Dayton finishing second, beaten a nose in the Buckeye Stallion Series Championship. The daughter of Fear The Dragon just kept getting better through the fall, stepping up to face Open company at Dayton. Since taking time off in the winter, she has reeled off three Open victories in Ohio.
“It’s taken her some time to get rolling, we’re really happy with how she is progressing,” said Burke.
Burke will also send out Naked On A Hill in the MGM Buckeye Distaff. An earner of just shy of $500,000, the four-year-old by Nob Hill High was a Buckeye Stallion Series champion at two, and while she had some success against Sires Stakes company at three, she finished seventh in that championship. Naked On A Hill has numerous Open wins in Ohio this year. On Saturday, she gets post relief after two straight outside draws at Scioto Downs.
“She should be better this week with an improved post draw,” said Burke. “She has been a little off her game as of late. A change in scenery should do her some good.”
Also competing in Saturday’s Buckeye Distaff is 2024 Ohio Sires Stakes champion My Red Sea, Beautiful Seaside, 2023 Ohio Sires Stakes champion Tarapasta, No Foolin April, defending MGM Buckeye Distaff winner Racing For Three, Hey Hey Mama and Do It Like Bobbi.
$75,000 USD MGM Buckeye Distaff
Post - Horse - Listed Driver - Trainer
1. My Red Sea - Brett Miller - Jason Irwin
2. Beautiful Seaside - Trevor Smith - Logan Rowe
3. Fearless Ginger - Chris Page - Ron Burke
4. Tarapasta - Austin Hanners - Todd Luther
5. Naked On A Hill - Chris Page - Ron Burke
6. No Foolin April - Jeremy Smith - Adam Short
7. Racing For Three - Trevor Smith - AJ Carlo
8. Hey Hey Mama - Matt Kakaley - Virgil Morgan Jr.
[9. Do It Like Bobbi - Dan Noble - Christi Noble
The Battle of Lake Erie program will have several great wagering opportunities including a $25,000 estimated Pick-4 pool beginning in Race 11, the Battle of Lake Erie, and a $20,000 estimated Super High-5 in Race 13, the MGM Buckeye Distaff.
Lady Luck's Clubhouse will also be open on Saturday and will offer a buffet for $27.95 USD. Reservations can be made by calling 330-467-4101.
Post time on Saturday is 6 p.m.
(With files from Northfield Park)
Northfield
Besides the Battle of Lake Erie and The Buckeye Distaff, there's a loaded undercard: 8 Ohio Sire Stake races, each for a purse of $65,000, for 3yo pacing and trotting colts and fillies. There's a total of more than $800,000 in purses on the 16-race card.