Northfield, OH — On a night where 13 different trainers found their way to the winner’s circle, Sunday (March 9) at MGM Northfield Park proved to have a little something for everyone. Leading dash trainer Ron Burke swept the featured events, driver Chris Lems had hot hands with four victories on the program, and the Pick-5 paid out to just one winner.
Burke, who was one of two trainers to double up on Sunday, got things rolling in the $19,000 Open Trot, with Oh Look Magic (Justin Irvine) prevailing as the heavy favorite.
Several horses were put into play early, with Son Of Sona (Keith Kash Jr.) making the lead and Oh Look Magic caught very wide into the initial turn. Into the backstretch, Son Of Sona, who was dismissed by the betting public after winning at long odds last week, made his way to the front. Irvine was able to guide Oh Look Magic into the two path but had to work hard to clear Son Of Sona who was aggressively driven through a :28.3 first quarter.
Irvine was able to get a breather in the second quarter, opening up a 1-3/4 length advantage in :58. From there, it was never an anxious moment for Irvine who was on autopilot in the final half-mile, drawing off to win by 2-1/2 lengths under confident handling. Open Bar (Chris Lems) battled on to be second, while Nothingbutadreamer (Nick Clegg) closed to be third.
For Oh Look Magic, it was 15th career victory for the 5-year-old son of Lookslikeachipndale. He pushed his career earnings to $398,256.
Irvine also had a big night, picking up three victories on the program.
In the co-featured $19,500 Open Pace, Night Shadow (Hunter Myers) made it two in a row, with a gate-to-wire victory from post seven.
Myers wasted no time putting Night Shadow into play, dueling with Cyclone Banner N (Anthony MacDonald) into the first turn. Into the backstretch, Cyclone Banner N was on the muscle, but Night Shadow elected to keep coming on the outside, finally clearing through a :27.2 first quarter.
After a :56.4 half, Night Shadow began to brace for challengers with Back In My Day (Luke Ebersole) first over and Pocket The Cash N (Lems) both applying pressure. Up the backstretch for the final time, Night Shadow continued to cruise on the front end, with the action heating up behind him.
At three-quarters in 1:25.1, Night Shadow appeared to kick clear from the challengers, but around the final turn Back In My Day continued to fight him, coming up just short in the final strides, not getting to Night Shadow who won by 1-1/2 lengths in 1:53.4.
Owned by Burke Racing Stable and Weaver Bruscemi, the 6-year-old by Shadow Play pushed his career earnings to $286,803.
Lems picked up a grand slam on the night, starting things off early with Bettor In Cash ($4), winning in a big way for trainer Tom Hall. Lems continued his winning ways by taking three legs of the Pick-5 sequence, all with longshot winners. Camouflage Money ($12.80), Bet On Blake ($65.40), and Dragon Candy ($9.80) all scored during the Pick-5, which paid to one lucky winner, returning a whopping $7,673.30.
Driver Aaron Merriman had a hat trick on the program, while Myers had two victories to end the night.
Live racing resumes on Tuesday (March 11) at 6 p.m.
MGM Northfield Park races on Saturday, Sunday, Tuesday, and Wednesday. For more information on live racing and promotions, visit www.northfieldpark.com.