Northfield, OH — Despite being assigned the outside, Bernie scored his fifth win in a row in Sunday’s (Jan. 9) $19,500 Open Handicap at MGM Northfield Park.

Bernie (blue headgear) evaded a late rally from Kiss Of Terror and won his fifth consecutive Open Pace at Northfield. Casalinova Photography.

Bernie fired off the gate from post seven, leading at every call through times of :27.1, :55.3, 1:23.4 and 1:52, besting his closest contender Kiss Of Terror (Billy Davis Jr.) by a neck.

Trainer Jessica Millner co-owns Bernie with Pod Stable LLC of Seven Hills, Ohio. Kurt Sugg was aboard the favorite, who returned $4.00 to win.

The 6-year-old Big Jim gelding was a 13-time winner last year and has won 25 of 87 career starts, banking $284,521.