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Monday’s (July 7) edition of Racing Roundup features results stories from Northfield Park and Tioga Downs.

Chase The Sun scores sixth straight win at Northfield Park

Northfield, OH — Chase The Sun paced home for his sixth straight win Monday (July 7) in Northfield Park’s eighth race. The 8-year-old gelding is owned by Lawrence La Barbera and trained by Brian Loney. Northfield Park’s leading driver, Josh Sutton, was aboard for the winning drive.

JJ Zamaiko photo

Chase The Sun paced home for his sixth straight win Monday in Northfield Park’s eighth race.

Chase The Sun started from post six and was content in fifth position through a blistering :26.1 opening quarter. Sutton pulled Chase The Sun in the second quarter and remained first-over through fractions of :55 and 1:23.4 before taking the lead. Once on the lead, he imposed his dominance by drawing off by 10-1/2 lengths in 1:52.3.

Monday’s triumph was the 29th career success for Chase The Sun (Bettor’s Delight-Out Of The Shadows) and increased his lifetime earnings to $180,388. He was the race favorite and returned $4.00 to win.

In race 10 Just Crowned captured the $12,000 Open Pace. Mark Headworth trains the 7-year-old for Tony Piroski. Aaron Merriman was the winning driver.

Just Crowned (Artsplace-Princess Justice) started from post two. He sat the pocket through fractions of :26.2, :54.2 and 1:23.2. Merriman pulled from the two-hole and bested his competition by 1-1/4 lengths in 1:53. Completing the race were Major Belle, True To Mach, Carmen’s Best, Hall Of Memories, Heza Star Cruiser, Bursting Blaze and Moreland Flash. High Noon was scratched from the event.

Monday’s triumph was the second win in 20 starts this year for Just Crowned. It increased his lifetime win tally to 24 and his earnings to $197,067. He paid $9.80 to win.

In the evening’s 11th race, Mythical Hall was victorious in the $12,000 Open Handicap Trot. He is trained by Andy Rickert and driven by Aaron Merriman for owner Mark Jakubik.

Mythical Hall (Andover Hall-Myth) started from the rail and was leading at every post through fractions of :27, :55, 1:24.2 and 1:55. He outfought the competition in the stretch and was a neck in front at the finish. Completing the race were Run And Tell Pap, Kahoku, Here Comes Bubba, Rose Run Logan, Zorgwijk Heavenly, Wind Surfer, Rush N Supreme and Miss Panthers.

Mythical Hall now has five wins in 13 starts this year, 23 career successes and a bankroll of $373,923. He returned $5.80 to win.

— Ayers Ratliff

Tioga Downs
Fireyourguns ($4.20) returned to his winning ways on Monday evening, taking charge with a circuit to go and holding off a late challenge from JK Panache in the $14,000 Open Handicap Pace at Tioga Downs. The 5-year-old American Ideal gelding settled just off the pacesetting pair of JK Panache (Brandon Simpson) and Golden Gun (Corey Braden) before Aaron Byron brushed him to the fore after a :26.4 initial quarter. Upon making the front, Fireyourguns kept at a solid pace through a half-mile of :55.1 before accelerating up the backstretch in a :27.1 third quarter. While Byron tried to get separation on his five rivals with the quickening tempo, JK Panache held firm in the pocket through the far turn, angling wide to give chase in the stretch. Fireyourguns responded to the challenge and held on for a one length win in 1:50.2. JK Panache held second, while Golden Gun stayed on for third at 52-1 from his tracking trip. Trainer Terence McClory co-owns Fireyourguns with Jennifer and Robert Lowe.