Wish You Well, a runner-up in the Delvin Miller Adios at The Meadows, has been installed as the 5-2 favourite and leads a competitive field for Saturday's $300,000 USD Carl Milstein Memorial at MGM Northfield Park.
The Carl Milstein Memorial, an invitational for three-year-old pacers, is always one of the staples on the stakes calendar each year.
“The year’s Milstein is a wide-open race, with horses from all over North America. The $300,000 [USD] event, in addition to the power-packed undercard will make for a great night of racing,” said Dave Bianconi, Northfield's Director of Racing.
After a slow start to his sophomore campaign, Wish You Well entered the $486,111 Adios off a victory at Harrah’s Philadelphia and a dominant 1:49.1 score in the $34,247 elimination. In the final, the son of Bettors Wish had a big late kick, but ran out of racetrack, missing by a neck to Captain Albano in 1:49.2. Wish You Well is owned by Kovach Stables and is trained by Nifty Norman.
“He has had an easy week at The Meadows [and] we are thrilled with the post draw,” said Norman of his Milstein post two starter. “He trains on a half and raced in the Messenger earlier this year, he doesn’t mind it at all.”
Lightly raced at two, Indiana standout Sabonis (post three) will take on Grand Circuit company for the first time in Saturday’s Carl Milstein Memorial. The three-year-old son by Tellitlikeitis enters on a seven-race win streak and sports 10 victories in 11 starts this year for owner Pat Miller of Slaughters, Kentucky and trainer Aaron Stutzman.
“He matured a lot from his two to three-year-old season," said Stutzman. "Last year wasn’t his year -- he was a little immature. He has surprised all of us with how good he has been this year. The races he has been in at Hoosier have been tough.”
The talented colt started the year with a powerful 5-1/2-length victory in a series final for non-winners of two races at Harrah’s Hoosier Park before tasting defeat for the first time. He returned to win another late closer and no one has been close to him in Indiana Sire Stakes company since. The Milstein will be the first time Sabonis will race away from Harrah’s Hoosier Park, something his connections aren’t worried about.
“I guess we will find out how good he will be on a half," said Stutzman. "He trains on a half and I don’t expect any surprises.”
Also competing in Saturday’s Grand Circuit event is The Stable.ca's standout Timeisonmyside (post one), Ohio-sired Rose Run Zane (post four), Ohio State Fair runner-up Janelle Granny (post five), Ontario Sires Stakes standout Storm Shadow (post six), MGM Messenger winner Sweet Beach Life (post seven), Ohio-sired Pariss Dragon (post eight) and Indiana-sired Noblesville (post nine).
Odds On Platinum Headlines Courageous Lady Stakes
Historically hosted in October, The Courageous Lady Stakes will move to the undercard of the Carl Milstein Memorial in 2024, with the addition of Ohio Super Night in October. The 2023 edition featured the Home of the Flying Turns's first dead heat in a Grand Circuit event, with Ucandoit Blue Chip and Zanatta hitting the wire together.
Odds On Platinum will ship-in from Canada on Saturday for trainer Dr. Ian Moore, looking to continue her winning ways. A runner-up in the $300,000 Ontario Sires Stakes Super Final as a two-year-old, the daughter of Bettors Delight has shown a lot of ability against Grand Circuit company, including a second-place showing in the $540,000 Shes A Great Lady last year. Her connections are pleased with the draw, getting post three, and look forward to seeing her compete against top talent again.
“She has really turned into a good filly," said Moore, who also trains Storm Shadow in the Milstein main event. "The draw hasn’t been kind to her lately. We are thankful she can leave the gate well. I picked her out as a yearling. Our entire team has enjoyed working with her.”
Trainer Linda Toscano will try to repeat in the Courageous Lady with the daughter of Stay Hungry, Sarasota Hanover. She won a division of the Bluegrass at The Red Mile as a two-year-old and won a division of the Kindergarten at The Meadowlands, before finishing a strong fourth in the $376,000 Three Diamonds at The Meadowlands.
She is also the fastest sophomore filly pacer in North America in 2024, with a dazzling 1:48.1 victory in May at The Meadowlands.
The talented filly, who will start from post two, looks to return to winning ways on Saturday against Fearless Ginger (post one), Genetic Edge (post four), Gone Coastal (post five), Wasted On You (post six), Soft Shot (post seven), Seaside Diva (post eight) and Flyin Bullets (post nine).
Its Academic Aims For Title Defense In Tom Aldrich President’s Trot
Double millionaire Its Academic returns to his Ohio roots on Saturday and will be aiming to defend his title in the $100,000 USD Tom Aldrich President’s Trot.
Its Academic, installed as the 3-5 morning line favourite by Director of Racing Dave Bianconi, has been lightly raced this season.
The Dan Patch Award-winning older male in 2023, Its Academic kicked off his season in the $179,795 Crawford Farms Trot at The Meadowlands, after qualifying several times in preparation for the races. He rallied from well off the pace to finish a game fourth in that effort.
He then shipped to Plainridge Park, where he put together an impressive performance, winning easily in 1:51.2 in the $342,466 Spirit of Massachuetts. He then shipped back toThe Meadowlands to race in the $391,667 John Cashman Memorial, where he set stiff fractions before tiring and finishing eighth.
“He got a tough trip last week, I expect him to be better in the Aldrich,” said trainer Ron Burke.
Owned by Brad Grant of Milton, Ont, Its Academic has 31 victories, with $2.56 million in career earnings, more than anyone he will face on Saturday.
Starting from post two, he will battle some talented foes including Rose Run Yolanda (post one), Herecomescharlie B (post three), Caviar Gold (post four), Shine All The Way (post five), Refined (post six), Black Magic (post seven), Dont Take My Keys (post eight) and Guido Di (post nine).
Racing Rampage Seeks Myron Charna President's Pace Victory In Ohio Return
An Ohio Sires Stakes star at two and three, Racing Rampage will try to continue his winning ways in Saturday’s $100,000 USD Myron Charna President’s Pace.
Trained by Travis Alexander for Ohio's Darren Dowler and Lawrence Bettler, the son of Racing Hill enters Saturday on a two-race win streak and having won five of eight starts in 2024.
“We had Racing Rampage as a two-year-old," said Alexander. "He’s always been an extremely talented horse, so when Darren asked us to give him a shot, we jumped at the opportunity."
Now four, the talented gelding has 12 wins with $420,174 in career earnings. While he has not yet won a Grand Circuit race, he has shown his class during many state-bred races throughout Ohio in his career, winning the Ohio Breeders’ Championship at Delaware Fairgrounds as a freshman and sophomore. He will start from post two.
Burke will send out Next Generation champion Act Fast from post five on Saturday evening. The talented gelding kicked off the year earning a victory in a leg of the Graduate Series at The Meadowlands, before finishing a strong third in the $315,068 final. Owned by Burke Racing Stables, Knox Services, Rich Lombardo Racing and Beasty, he has earned $524,935 in his career.
They will face Liteningonthebeach (post one), Quick Trick (post three), Burnout (post four), Brake Ahead (post six), One Last Laugh (post seven), Seafire (post eight) and Nashing Hill (post nine).
Saturday’s Carl Milstein Memorial program will get underway at 6 p.m. and feature a $25,000 guaranteed $1 Pick-4 beginning in race eight, with a $10,000 guaranteed $1 Pick-4 beginning in race 11 and a $10,000 guaranteed 20-cent Super Hi-5 in race 13.
(With files from Northfield Park; photo of Wishyouwell from a previous win)