Northfield, OH — Funatthebeach N rallied from off a blistering pace to score an impressive 24-1 upset in Saturday night’s (June 11) $200,000 Battle of Lake Erie at MGM Northfield Park.

As the gate sprung, a host of leavers sprinted into the opening turn, with Nicholas Beach (Joe Bongiorno) winning the early skirmish. Moving into the backstretch to the first quarter, Ocean Rock (Dan Noble) muscled his way to the top through a :25.2 first quarter. Tattoo Artist (Mark MacDonald) applied immediate pressure at the quarter pole, forcing Noble and Ocean Rock to the half in :52.3.

Eventual winner Funatthebeach N rode the coattails of Jimmy Freight (Billy Davis Jr.), both making three-wide bids heading to three-quarters in 1:21.

Turning for home, Davis was able to clear Ocean Rock, but Funatthebeach N, with fresh legs off a perfect third-over journey, pushed past Jimmy Freight, winning by 1-1/4 lengths in a career best 1:49.2.

Funatthebeach N rolled off cover to upset at 24-1 in Saturday night’s Battle of Lake Erie. USTA/Mark Hall photo.

“It was a stellar race, with no slouches,” said winning driver Jordan Stratton. “The trip won the race. I was happy to follow Jimmy; it was the same trip as in the MGM Borgata.”

A New Zealand-sired import, Funatthebeach N has won the two richest races in North America this season for veteran pacers: the $549,500 Borgata Series Final at MGM Yonkers Raceway and the $200,000 Battle of Lake Erie at MGM Northfield Park. He is the richest horse in harness racing this year, with $512,257 in the bank in 2022.

With the victory, Funatthebeach N has $846,016 in career earnings with 30 wins in 106 starts for owner-trainer Mark Ford.

To watch a race replay of Funatthebeach N’s Battle of Lake Erie victory, click here.

Snobbytown scores in inaugural $35,000 MGM Buckeye Distaff

Snobbytown gave driver Ronnie Wrenn Jr. his fifth win of the Saturday night program in gate-to-wire fashion in the inaugural $35,000 MGM Buckeye Distaff for veteran Ohio-sired pacing mares.

Screamin Demon (Tony Hall) left alertly through the first eighth of a mile, but Snobbytown took the lead approaching a snappy :26.1 first quarter. Wrenn got a slight breather heading to the half in :54 before dealing with pressure from local Adorabella (Hunter Myers).

Snobbytown just missed the track and world record with a 1:50.1 effort in the $35,000 MGM Buckeye Distaff. Angela Casalinova photo.

Wrenn stepped on the gas, moving past the three-quarter pole in 1:21.1 and drawing off to win by two lengths in 1:50.1, just one-fifth of a second off the world and track record.

Snobbytown is owned by Burke Racing Stable, Weaver Bruscemi and Jason Melillo, and has $42,500 in the bank this season.

To watch a race replay of Snobbytown’s MGM Buckeye Distaff victory, click here.

Live racing resumes at MGM Northfield Park on Sunday (June 12) with first post at 6 p.m. Sunday’s card features a Pick-6 (races 8-13) carryover of $2,145.