by Keith Gisser, assistant publicity director, Northfield Park

Northfield, OH — On Friday night (April 29), Northfield Park Wall of Famer Don McKirgan posted his first driving win since recovering from Guillain-Barre syndrome, a nervous system disorder which left him paralyzed.

McKirgan steered Mom’s Datebook to a 2:02.2 victory in the sixth race trot for trainer Marty Wollam and owners Jeff Polichena of Polichena Motors, Tony Minute and George Berlin’s Acadia Farms.

McKirgan was out of the bike from November of 2003 until April 4 of this year. His last win was on November 26, 2003 at Northfield Park behind Kick Sand. McKirgan had won at least one race at Northfield every year since the track opened in 1957, before being sidelined for all of 2004.

Anita Rush moved up from the conditioned ranks to post her third straight win, easily taking the $8,000 Mares Open Pace in 1:55.3.

Anita Rush stalked the early pace of A Diamond In June over a track made tacky by light rainfall but rated fast, and easily went by in the stretch to beat the early leader by one length. Hidden Affair was third.

Ray Fisher, Jr. drove the winner for owner-trainer Kent Sherman of Northfield. It was one of three wins on the card for Fisher, second only to Aaron Merriman’s four-bagger.