by Ayers Ratliff, Northfield Park Publicity Department

Northfield, OH — The Battle of Lake Erie, one of Northfield Park’s premier races and a Grand Circuit event, is set for its 30th edition on Friday (June 12). The Friday feature is scheduled as the 11th of 15 races with a 6 p.m. first race post time. This year’s Battle carries a purse of $175,000, the largest in its history.

The race is the fourth leg of the evening’s Pick-4, which has a $10,000 guaranteed pool, and superfecta wagering has been added.

Since its inception in 1986, the Battle has drawn the very best veteran pacers in the sport to compete on Northfield Park’s Flying Turns. Past Battle champions include racing greats Falcon Seelster, Quite A Sensation, Jaguar Spur, Dorunrun Bluegrass, Cambest, Riyadh, Gallo Blue Chip and Maltese Artist.

In addition to superior racing action, Battle night will also offer guests a sumptuous buffet in Lady Luck’s clubhouse dining room. The buffet is just $19.95. Reservations are preferred and can be made by calling 330.467.4101.

Guests who want to be close to the racing action can stop by the grandstand apron to visit Seti’s Polish Boys food truck. Live music by The Attraxxion will be part of the apron scene from 6-10 p.m. and spin the prize wheel with WMJI’s Chip Kullik from 7-9 p.m.

The 2015 Battle of Lake Erie field:

#1 Clear Vision is this event’s returning champion. He is one of two starters from the powerful barn of Ron Burke. Owned by Burke Racing Stable LLC of Fredericktown, Pa., Weaver Bruscemi LLC of Canonsburg, Pa. and The Panhellenic Stable Corp. of Oyster Bay, N.Y., he has won 29 and has been on the board in 95 of 175 career races. His lifetime mark is 1:48.2f at Tioga Downs with a career bankroll of $2,346,732. This marks Clear Vision’s third Battle of Lake Erie appearance. He won last year and finished third in 2013. His richest victory was in the $223,500 Bobby Quillen Memorial at Harrington Raceway in 2013. Burke has named Chris Page to drive this 8-1 morning line competitor.

#2 Cammikey has the highest win percentage of any starter in this year’s edition. He has been victorious in 10 of 21 career races, taking a 1:49.4f mark in 2014 at The Meadows and earning $252,037. The 4-year-old is owned by Cam Land LLC of Washington, Pa. Cammikey enters this race off three consecutive victories. He is conditioned by William Zendt. The Meadows regular and customary Cammikey driver Brian Zendt has been named to steer the 12-1 morning line contender.

#3 Luck Be Withyou sports career earnings of $738,176. He has 35 lifetime starts and 13 career victories. He is a 4-year-old son of Western Ideal with a lifetime mark of 1:48f at The Downs at Mohegan Sun Pocono. Luck Be Withyou is owned by John Craig of North York, Ontario, and is trained by Chris Oakes. He has won three of his last four races and has been assigned a morning line of 7-2. Ronnie Wrenn Jr. is making his first Battle appearance. Wrenn is Northfield Park’s leading driver and won the national driving title in both 2013 and 2014.

#4 Duc Dorleans will start for Canadian owners Gestion C. Levesque 2005 Inc. and Les Ecuries Dorleans Inc. of Quebec. He has 25 career victories in 75 lifetime starts. This 5-year-old son of Shanghai Phil has career earnings of $487,418 and sports a 1:49f lifetime mark at Pompano. With eight firsts already in 2015, Duc Dorleans has more wins this year than any of the Battle contenders. This 12-1 morning line selection is trained by Marie Dupont and will be driven by Daniel Dube.

#5 Foiled Again is attempting to become the first horse to win this event three times and is making his seventh Battle of Lake Erie appearance. He won in 2009 and 2011, finished third in 2010 and was second in 2012. Ron Burke trains Foiled Again for owners Burke Racing Stable of Fredricktown, Pa., Weaver Bruscemi of Canonsburg, Pa. and JJK Stables of Fort Lauderdale, Fla. Foiled Again has garnered 83 career victories and has been in the money 173 times in 228 career starts, earning a mark of 1:48f at The Downs at Mohegan Sun Pocono and earnings of $6,925,031. Those career earnings rank him as the richest pacer in history. Former Northfield standout Matt Kakaley is scheduled to pilot this 4-1 third favorite.

#6 Big Boy Dreams is owned by Robert Hamather of Exeter, Ontario, Rene Allard of Milford, Pa. and Mary Lou Poliseno of Hartly, Del. The 4-year-old has 30 career starts with 12 wins. He earned a 1:49.4f lifetime mark at The Downs at Mohegan Sun Pocono and has career earnings of $517,342. Big Boy Dreams enters this race off two straight wins, posting that lifetime mark in his most recent performance. Rene Allard trains Big Boy Dreams and calls upon North America’s leading driver, Aaron Merriman, to pilot. Merriman has won more races than any other driver over Northfield Park’s Flying Turns. Big Boy Dreams ships in as a 9-2 morning line starter.

#7 State Treasurer, one of three millionaires in this Battle field, is the 5-2 slight morning line favorite. He enters off two straight wins, the $120,000 Molson Pace at Western Fair on May 29 being his most recent victory. State Treasurer has 75 lifetime starts and 23 career victories. The 6-year-old son of Real Desire brings a lifetime mark of 1:48.1s at Mohawk and career earnings of $1,016,103. He is owned by Sally MacDonald of Souris, Prince Edward Island and Paul MacDonald of Toronto, Ontario and is trained by Ian Moore. Hall of Famer and Buckeye native David Miller drives.

#8 Night Pro, 20-1, was the runner-up in the 2014 edition of the Battle. He has a 1:49s Hoosier Park lifetime mark and earnings of $510,549. He is the son of Pro Bono Best (sire of Bono Bests, 2008 Battle of Lake Erie champion). His dam, Midnight Jewel, was an accomplished race mare at Northfield Park and throughout the Midwest. This 5-year-old has won 30 of 51 career starts and is six of 10 this year. Night Pro won his career debut here in a $2,000 non-winners of one in 1:57.4 in March 2013. Dale Decker of Temperance, Mich., owns and trains Night Pro. Greg Grismore has been given the driving assignment.