Victory Is Coming broke Northfield Park’s track record for older trotting mares thanks to her 1:55.1 decision in Monday’s $6,000 Open Trot. The previous record of 1:56 was shared by Toms OK Lady (2009 and 2010) and Normas Rose (2013).
Betty and John Shaw of Mount Vernon, OH own Victory Is Coming, who is trained and was driven to the record-setting win by Ammon Hershberger. The six-year-old daughter of Victory Sam-Norse Comer started from post-six and sat fourth through an opening quarter of :28. She was third through a half in :56.3, before making her move to the lead in the third quarter. She stepped past the three-quarter pole in 1:25.3 and drew clear to win by 2-¾ lengths over Lady Rev, with South Jersey Honey finishing third.
Victory Is Coming is now a 30-time winner with a bankroll that stands at $362,283. Sent off as the favourite, the trotting mare returned $4.80 to win.
Lite Me Up took the $6,000 Open Pace for owner/trainer Michael Epler of Washington, PA. Epler called upon Ronnie Wrenn, Jr. to do the driving.
Lite Me Up, a 10-year-old son of Stand Forever-Hills War Feather, started from post five and sat the pocket through fractions of :27.1, :56.2 and 1:24.2 before Wrenn angled to the outside in the stretch and rallied the pacer to the win by 1-¼ lengths in 1:53.3. Beans And Weenies was second under the line, with Sharp Shuttle taking home third prize.
Lite Me Up won for the 51st time in his career wins while pushing his earnings to $371,899. He paid $5.40 to win.
(Northfield Park)