Northfield, OH – The field is set for the 40th edition of the prestigious Grade 2 Battle of Lake Erie, as nine accomplished pacers will line up behind the starting gate Saturday (June 6) to compete for a purse of $250,000 at Northfield Park.
The Battle of Lake Erie once again attracted a star-studded group of older pacers from some of North America’s top stables. The field features multiple stakes-winners and seasoned veterans, setting the stage for one of the most anticipated races of the season.
Captain Albano, a career earner of nearly $2.5 million in purses, has been installed as the 3-1 morning-line favorite for trainer Noel Daley and driver Todd McCarthy. Captain Albano’s résumé includes victories in the $478,000 MGM Borgata Pacing Series final (G2) at MGM Yonkers Raceway in May and the prestigious Little Brown Jug (G1) at the Delaware (OH) County Fairgrounds in 2024.
Ken Hanover, who won last year’s Battle of Lake Erie and captured the Joseph Auger Memorial (G3) on May 24 at Harrah’s Philadelphia, is the 7-2 second choice.
Post Positions – 40th Battle of Lake Erie
Post-Horse-Driver-Trainer-Morning Line
1-Women Layer – Luke Hanners – Virgil Morgan Jr. – 6-1
2-Mossdale Ben N – Jim Marohn Jr. – Peter Tritton – 4-1
3-Captain Albano – Todd McCarthy – Noel Daley – 3-1
4-Helium N – Dan Noble – Christi Noble – 12-1
5-Prince Hal Hanover – Matt Kakaley – Dr. Ian Moore – 9-2
6-Ken Hanover – Brett Miller – Roland Mallar – 7-2
7-For Once Inmy Life – Jordan Stratton – Cory Stratton – 15-1
8-Bythemissal – Chris Page – Ron Burke – 20-1
9-Huntinthelastdolar – Tyler Smith – Per Engblom – 10-1
Note: Huntinthelastdolar starts from the second tier.
With the richest purse in the history of the event and a field packed with talent, the 40th Battle of Lake Erie promises to deliver another memorable chapter in the history books.
The co-featured event, the Buckeye Distaff, will go for its first six-figure purse of $100,000. That field attracted nine of the top Ohio-sired mares in the country.
Post positions – 5th Buckeye Distaff
Post-Horse-Driver-Trainer
1-Real Star – Trevor Smith – Scott Mogan
2-Hey Hey Mama – Luke Hanners – Virgil Morgan Jr.
3-Naked On A Hill – Chris Page – Ron Burke
4-High Flyin’ Filly – Dan Noble – Ron Burke
5-Prolific Fire – Mike Wilder – Todd Luther
6-Factory Girl – Dan Noble – Scott DiDomenico
7-Odds On Chesapeake – Todd McCarthy – Virgil Morgan Jr.
8-Tarapasta – Matt Kakaley – Todd Luther
9-No Foolin April – Brett Miller – Adam Short
Note: No Foolin April starts from the second tier.
The 16-race program is loaded with stakes throughout as there are five divisions of Buckeye Stallion Series events for 3-year-old pacing colts and geldings as well as five divisions on the trot side. There will also be four divisions of Buckeye Claiming Series 3-year-old male pacers.
Live racing kicks off at 6 p.m. (EDT), which also starts the first of five consecutive nights of live racing at the “Home of the Flying Turns.”