Minimal speed pushed pacesetter Bettors Wish, forcing a final-half sprint that crowned the Chris Ryder trainee with a 1:50.3 victory in the $400,000 Carl Milstein Memorial on Saturday, Aug. 10 at Northfield Park.
Captain Victorious protected position from the pylons as a six-wide charge barreled towards the first turn. Driver Dexter Dunn emerged from the pack with Bettors Wish and brushed the son of Bettors Delight to the top moving towards a :28.2 first quarter. Workin Ona Mystery sat wide and uncovered from fourth but ventured forward as the field approached a :57 half.
Workin Ona Mystery quickly faltered midway up the backstretch as Bettors Wish quickened towards three-quarters in 1:24.1 chased by pocket-sitter Captain Victorious, who clung to second while losing ground to Bettors Wish as he drew away under the finish. Century Farroh, sitting behind the top two, took third.
“We obviously had a good draw to use and the horse had been racing pretty big,” Dunn said after the race. “He’s a pretty versatile and tough horse, but once we got to the half like that… if we got beat from there, it would be an off night for him. It was my first drive on the track but the sections were pretty sly; we got away pretty good and they still pay the same amount after.”
Co-owned by Chris Ryder with Bella Racing Ltd., Fair Island Farm Inc. and Bettors Wish Partners, Bettors Wish won his sixth race from nine starts this season and his 11th from 21 overall, pushing his career earnings past $1.2 million. He paid $3.80 to win.
Two races prior to the main event, Dancin Yankee captured his fourth-straight $50,000 Myron Charna President’s Pace. The Ohio-sired event by invitation began in 2016.
Dancin Yankee left from the gate, initially taking the lead before letting the heavy favourite Sectionline Bigry reclaim the top just past the :26.2 opening quarter. He received the garden trip through times of :54.4 and 1:21.3 before making his move in the stretch and winning by a half length in 1:49.2. The clocking equaled Northfield’s track record for an aged pacing horse, set by All Bets Off in 2017.
Ron Burke trains Dancin Yankee for the Burke Racing Stable. Chris Page was in the bike.
Five divisions of Ohio Sires Stakes (OHSS) featured several track records set and tied.
In the first of a trio of $40,000 OHSS events, 1-9 favourite Lane Of Stone cruised easily to a 1:54 track record in front-stepping fashion for driver Jeff Nisonger and trainer Mark Winters, Sr., who conditions the son of Wishing Stone for owner Harry Horowitz of Brooklyn, NY.
“This is the kind of trotter everyone dreams about,” Nisonger told interviewer and Northfield Racing Secretary Dave Bianconi.
Lane Of Stone now has $279,393 in earnings from this latest victory, having previously won OHSS legs one and three.
In the second OHSS split, a $50,000 race for three-year-old pacing fillies, Queen Of The Pride sped to a 1:51.4 clocking for driver Tony Hall, tying the Northfield Park track record for age and gait. Kevin Lare trains the McArdle lass for Frank Chick of Harrington, DE.
“Kevin [Lare] had to make some equipment changes and they were just enough to smooth her out,” driver Hall said. “She was strong and solid tonight—just what we want to see going into the final.”
Queen Of The Pride pushed her career earnings to $510,579 with this latest win, the 12th of her career.
Giggles And Dreams, the 6-5 choice, captured the second $50,000 OHSS contest for three-year-old pacing fillies for driver Shawn Barker II and trainers-owners Don and Mike Yeazel.
“I named this filly after my son,” Mike said. “He used to dream and would giggle in his sleep.”
“I’ve waiting for 45 years to have a horse like this,” Don added.
Giggles And Dream grabbed the lead from the start and never looked back, pacing to a 1:51.2 win. The daughter of Nob Hill High upped her lifetime earnings to $168,695 with this, her seventh victory in 24 starts.
Dylan The Great—with Chris Page at the lines—captured the second $40,000 OHSS for three-year-old trotting colts, coming from off the pace to nail the victory for trainer Ronnie Burke and owners Burke Racing, L. Karr, J&TSilva-Purnel&Libby and Weaver Bruscemi. This gelded son by Break The Bank K stayed off the pace until the late going before drawing off by six lengths in 1:53.2.
Serenity Cruise picked up the victory in the third OHSS contest for three-year-old trotting colts, stopping the timer in 1:54.2 with Tyler Smith in the sulky. The Uncle Peter gelding is trained and co-owned by Brent Davis along with the Hatfield Stables and Roy Davis, and sat behind the pace-setting Yes until late stretch before pulling and besting his rival by two-and-a-quarter lengths. Unraced at two, Serenity Cruise now has $68,000 earned this season from five wins in 11 starts.
(Ohio Sires Stakes)
(with files from Northfield Park and the Ohio Sires Stakes)