by Keith Gisser, assistant publicity director, Northfield Park
Northfield, OH — Royal Mattjesty drew post position four and was installed as the 5-2 morning line favorite for Northfield Park’s $125,000 Battle of Lake Erie. The harness track, located between Cleveland and Akron, Ohio, will hosts the 19th renewal of the Invitational pace on Saturday, June 12.
Owned by Perretti Racing and John Rizzo of New Jersey, Royal Mattjesty will become a millionaire with a win. He is also the fastest horse in the field, with a 1:484 win in a $60,000 Classic Series leg, won at the Meadowlands earlier this year. Trainer Nat Varty has called on Montreal native Stephane Bouchard to drive the son of Matt’s Scooter. Bouchard won Driver of the Year honors from Harness Tracks of America in 2001.
The world champion Allamerican Captor drew the coveted rail and has been installed as the 3-1 second choice for the Battle. Trained by former Northfield training champ Virgil Morgan, Jr. and driven by former top Northfield teamster Brett Miller, Allamerican Captor is owned by David Rahal and Alvin Jacobson. He set a world record in last year’s Miller Lite Cleveland Classic at Northfield, in which he paced to a 1:502 win, which was the fastest mile in the track’s 47-year history. Here’s the field:
The $125,000 Battle of Lake Erie
PP – Horse – Driver – Trainer – Line
1 – Allamerican Captor – Brett Miller – Virgil Morgan, Jr. – 3-1
2 – Sand Olls Dexter – Mark MacDonald – Daryl Roberts – 4-1
3 – Constant Change – Dave Palone – Tom Simmons – 6-1
4 – Royal Mattjesty – Stephane Bouchard – Nat Varty – 5-2
5 – Life Sizzles – Jay Cross – Jeff Miller – 12-1
6 – Cam’s Fast Gun – Doug Snyder – Mickey Burke – 10-1
7 – Cambest Prince – Greg Grismore – Jeff Cox – 8-1
8 – Peruvian Hanover – Joe Essig, Jr. – Noel Daley – 15-1
The 14 race Battle of Lake Erie card will start at 7 p.m. (EDT) and will feature five divisions of Ohio Sire Stakes for 3-year-old trotting and pacing colts, five divisions on each gait. A total of just under $350,000 in purses will be paid that night.
- Royal Mattjesty takes $125,000 Battle of Lake Erie (Saturday, June 12, 2004)
Royal Mattjesty became racing’s newest millionaire by winning Saturday’s $125,000 Battle of Lake Erie at Northfield Park.