by Keith Gisser, director of publicity, Northfield Park

Northfield, OH — Lloyd Mathieson’s Matt Hershey had no trouble winning Saturday’s (June 30) $8,500 Open Handicap Pace at Northfield, despite being assigned the outside post eight.

Driver Matt Kakaley moved the Mickey Burke-trainee to the outside just past the three-eighths and ground out the win over pacesetter Coal Black Beauty, who finished third after posting fractions of :27.1, :57 and 1:25.2 and Tre Bien, who sat in the pocket and used the passing lane to get the place spot.

Matt Hershey is a 7-year-old Life Sign horse who won for the eighth time in 16 starts and pushed his earnings to $255,946.

Todd Jones won four races on the card, while Wyatt Irvine had a driving triple.