Northfield, OH — Killer Instinct ($11.00) bided his time early and rallied from off the pace to score a mild upset in Monday’s (Feb. 13) $18,000 Open Handicap Trot at MGM Northfield Park.

When the wings of the gate opened, Eye Ofa Tiger AS (Greg Grismore), Saint K (Kurt Sugg), and Predator And Prey (Billy Davis Jr.) all left quickly into the opening turn. Saint K cleared to the lead entering the backstretch but had to deal with immediate pressure from Predator And Prey, who took over at the end of a :27.2 first quarter. Mission Accepted (Ronnie Wrenn Jr.), who was parked from the start, finally cleared around the far turn for the first time. Coming to the half in :56.1, Wrenn immediately had to deal with a challenge from Light Blue Movers (Aaron Merriman), who made a first-over bid. Heading to three-quarters in 1:25, Hunter Myers flipped Killer Instinct three-wide off cover to take aim at the leaders. Light Blue Movers gave way around the last turn, making it a three-horse race coming into the stretch. Killer Instinct wore down Mission Accepted, winning in 1:54.3 by a neck.

Killer Instinct rallied late to collar Mission Accepted in the nick of time in Monday’s Open Handicap Trot at Northfield.

Mission Accepted dug in to save second, while Predator And Prey finished third.

Owned by Corey Hendricks and trainer Melanie O’Donnell, Killer Instinct has now won 29 of 79 starts and made $240,881; it was the third victory in five starts this year for the 5-year-old by Southwind Frank.

Also featured on the Monday night program was the $18,000 Open Handicap Pace, which saw Bronx Seelster (Ronnie Wrenn Jr.) become a repeat winner.

Several horses left off the car, with Zanetti (Aaron Merriman) getting the jump on the field into the first turn. Wrenn, however, wasted no time putting Bronx Seelster on the lead, clearing in a :26.3 first quarter. The field remained in single file order until just before the half, when Bernie (Ryan Stahl) and Southwind Amazon (Billy Davis Jr.) began their bids for the lead past the half in :54.4. Bronx Seelster faced no pressure from the outer flow, getting to three-quarters in 1:23, leading by 1-1/4 lengths. Turning for home, while Bernie tired, Merriman pulled Zanetti out of the pocket but had to settle for second as Bronx Seelster cruised to a one-length win, scoring in 1:51.3.

Bronx Seelster scored the winning run in the Open Handicap Pace, turning aside multiple challengers in the act. Casalinova Photography.

Not Today (Eric Tharps Jr.) rallied to be third over Southwind Amazon.

Bronx Seelster earned his fourth win in six starts this season for owners Burke Racing Stable LLC, Weaver Bruscemi and Phil Collura. Trained by Ron Burke, the son of Big Jim has earned $749,579 during his impressive career.

Live racing resumes on Tuesday evening (Feb. 14) at 6 p.m. MGM Northfield Park currently races on Saturday, Sunday, Tuesday and Wednesday. For more information on live racing and promotions, visit www.northfieldpark.com.