by Ayers Ratliff, for Northfield Park
Northfield, OH — All Bets Off won Saturday’s (June 3) $200,000 Battle of Lake at Northfield Park, making him only the second horse to win both the Carl Milstein Memorial and the Battle of Lake Erie, which are two of the track’s prestigious Grand Circuit events. Wiggle It Jiggleit, the 2015 Horse of the Year, is the only other horse to accomplish the same feat.

JJ Zamaiko Photography
All Bets Off and Matt Kakaley won the $200,000Battle of Lake Erie in 1:49.2 at Northfield Park.
All Bets Off (Bettor’s Delight – Armbro Penelope – Dexter Nukes) is owned by the partnership of Burke Racing Stable, Weaver Bruscemi LLC, Frank Baldachino and Panhellenic Stable. He is trained by Ron Burke. Matt Kakaley had the winning drive.
As the gate pulled away from the stellar Battle field, Luck Be Withyou and Aaron Merriman rushed to the front, setting wicked fast fractions of :26, :52.4 and 1:20.3.
“I figured the race would rock and roll early. I thought I should get away mid-pack and cross my fingers,” said Kakaley.“The trip worked out perfectly for us.”
All Bets Off started from post four and made a three-wide bid late in the third panel to make the front and best his competition by 2-1/4lengths, stopping the clock at 1:49.2. The time represents a new track record for pacers that are 5-year-old and up.
The former 1:50.4 mark was set in 2002 by Western Millennium and Walter Case Jr.
“All Bets Off is a special horse to me and has really helped further my career to a place I’m not sure it would be without him,” offered Kakaley. “This win feels good.”
Saturday’s win marks the 25th score for All Bets Off in 86 career races and increases his bankroll to $2,372,503.
- Competitive field in Saturday’s $200,000 Battle of Lake Erie at Northfield Park (Tuesday, May 30, 2017)
Saturday’s Battle of Lake Erie rivals have a combined 192 victories. Northfield Park’s 11th race features a competitive field of the sport’s best open pacers and will reveal who earns the 193rd win.
- Trio of tracks to host Grand Circuit stakes on Saturday (Wednesday, May 31, 2017)
Grand Circuit action will take place on Saturday (June 3) at three venues.
- Sunfire Blue Chip strives for Battle of Lake Erie title (Friday, June 02, 2017)
As his first and only crop of yearlings prepares to be educated for their future profession, Sunfire Blue Chip is demonstrating to his offspring just exactly how to follow in his hoofprints, as the 7-year-old son of American Ideal has just commenced his own 2017 campaign and seeks to add a $200,000 Battle of Lake Erie triumph to his already extensive list of accomplishments on Saturday (June 3).