Top Sophomores To Meet In Milstein

Pepsi North America Cup champion Lather Up headlines a deep and diverse field in Northfield Park’s premier event, the $400,000 Carl Milstein Memorial, on Saturday night (Aug. 11). The race, an invitational for three-year-olds, has attracted a diverse and accomplished group of horses, representing sires from six different states and Ontario.

Ohio-sired Lather Up has been named the 2-1 morning-line favourite by Northfield's Executive Vice President of Racing and Simulcasting, Dave Bianconi. Lather Up has banked over $500,000 in purses while winning eight of his nine starts thus far in 2018. Lather Up is the only horse in the field that has ever competed at Northfield, including a local victory in Ohio Sires Stakes competition last year. Clyde Francis of the George Teague Stable trains Lather Up for owners and breeders Gary and Barbara Iles of Harrington, Del.

Jimmy Freight drew the rail and is the 3-1 second choice. He ventures south of the border on the heels of a career-best 1:48.3 romp in Ontario Sires Stakes company on Aug. 4 at Woodbine Mohawk Park. Jimmy Freight is now a perfect 4-for-4 in Ontario Sires Stakes Gold events this year.

Dorsoduro Hanover drew post 5 and is the 4-1 third choice. He is fresh off a breakthrough victory in the $400,000 Adios at The Meadows. Pennsylvania-sired Dorsoduro Hanover enters the Milstein for harness racing's leading trainer in both wins and purses, Ron Burke. Burke recently surpassed the $200 million mark in career purses from his stable, and is a fixture atop the seasonal leader board for trainers in both wins and earnings from his starters.

The 2018 $400,000 Milstein Memorial field:
(post, horse, driver, trainer, morning line odds)

1. Jimmy Freight - Louis-Philippe Roy - Andrew Harris - 3-1
2. Lather Up - Montrell Teague - Clyde Francis - 2-1
3. Thinkbig Dreambig - Jordan Stratton - Jimmy Takter - 12-1
4. Springsteen - David Miller - Rene Allard - 6-1
5. Dorsoduro Hanover - Matt Kakaley - Ron Burke - 4-1
6. Minnie Vinnie - Aaron Merriman - Curtis Carey - 15-1
7. Slick Tony - Russell Foster - George Leager - 20-1
8. Always A Prince - Trace Tetrick - Tyler George - 10-1

The race is named in honour of Carl Milstein, who owned and operated Northfield Park from 1984 until his passing in 1999. His son, Brock, took over as Chairman of Northfield Park upon his father’s passing until earlier this year, when MGM Growth Properties purchased the racetrack from Milstein Entertainment LLC.

In 1972, the senior Milstein, a Cleveland builder and real estate developer, headed a group of several partners, including George Steinbrenner, which purchased Northfield Park. They leased the facility to other operators through the early 1980s. The track lost significant amounts of money during that period before Milstein took full ownership and control. In late 1984, he successfully applied to the Ohio State Racing Commission for the necessary licenses and, beginning in January 1985, conducted permanent race meetings at Northfield of between 212 and 238 days every year.

Milstein was the driving force behind a resurgence of the beleaguered track, which ascended to among harness racing’s top tracks in attendance and handle. He was an innovator in promotions and advertising and successfully led the track into the era of simulcast racing.

“The Carl Milstein Memorial is our richest and most prestigious race of the year,” stated Brent Reitz, Northfield Park Vice President and General Manager, “but the rest of the card is loaded with exceptional racing as well.” This year’s Milstein Memorial program carries total purses in excess of $700,000.

The 16-race program includes the $50,000 Myron Charna President’s Pace, a race for older Ohio-sired pacers (by invitation only), three $40,000 divisions of Ohio Sires Stakes for three year-old pacing fillies and three $19,000 Open events.

(Northfield Park)