by Ayers Ratliff, for Northfield Park
Northfield, OH — Longshot bettors were ecstatic as the horses crossed the finish line of Northfield Park’s 10th race on Tuesday (Jan. 17) when No. 8 Arrow rocketed from the back to win at odds of 60-1.
JJ Zamaiko photo
Arrow and Sam Schillaci won the tenth race on Tuesday at Northfield Park at odds of 60-1.
Growth Opportunities, LLC of North Canton, Ohio, owns the 5-year-old pacer. Dean Santantonio trains Arrow and called upon Sam Schillaci for the winning drive. Tuesday’s triumph was Arrow’s first win this year in three starts and represents his eighth lifetime score.
Arrow was followed across the wire by No. 6 Village Jackson (2-1), No. 2 Battle Call (2-1) and No. 4 Moreland Flash (50-1). Arrow returned $123.00 to win; the 8-6 exacta paid $502.00; the 8-6-2 trifecta returned $1,831.60; and the 8-6-2-4 20-cent superfecta paid $695.65. Arrow’s win came as the third leg of the evening’s $1 Pick-4 which returned a whopping $13,854.50.
Although his horse was scratched from race 10 and did not compete against the evening’s richest winner, driver Jason Merriman made six trips to the winner’s circle on Tuesday’s 15-race program.
His triumphs were with Lion Image ($17.20) in race one, Talladega Hanover ($5.80) in race three, Urlacker ($18.80) in race five, Wheres The Clicker ($6.60) in race seven, High Blue ($10.60) in race nine and Albert A’ Scootin ($12.20) in race 13.
Merriman won his first race in 2003, a $4,900 conditioned event in 1:59.3 at Pompano Park with I C U Talkin. Since breaking his maiden, he has scored 2,236 more times with purse earnings approaching $11 million.