Northfield, OH – It’s Academic and Bythemissal continued to assert dominance on Saturday (Aug. 12) with decisive victories in the $100,000 Tom Aldrich President’s Trot and Myron Charna President’s Pace at MGM Northfield Park.

It’s Academic won the $100,000 Tom Aldrich President’s Trot at MGM Northfield Park Saturday night. Casalinova Photo.

It’s Academic (David Miller) kicked things off in the Aldrich President’s Trot with a mighty gate-to-wire victory. Miller defended pylon position well into the first turn, leaving alertly with the son of Uncle Peter, but Refined (Tyler Smith) and Caviar Gold (Aaron Merriman) both left to his outside.

Into the backstretch the first time, it looked like Caviar Gold would be parked to the opening quarter, but when Pappardelle (Ronnie Wrenn Jr.) made a break, it allowed him to save ground in third.

With the field in straight alignment, It’s Academic reached the opening quarter in :27.1.

Miller worked out a :29.3 breather in the second panel, with the outflow from The Mighty Hill (Dexter Dunn) flushed out by Smoking Jet (Chris Page) breathing down his neck. None of his competitors came closer than 1-3/4 lengths to It’s Academic, who cruised by three-quarters in 1:24.3.

Midway around the far turn, The Mighty Hill jumped off stride, leaving It’s Academic and Refined all alone on the lead; while Refined tried to close on the champion, It’s Academic made it five in a row setting a new track record of 1:51.4. Caviar Gold dug in to be third, while Joggingtothebank (Brett Miller) rallied to be fourth.

“He’s been on top of his game the last couple of months,” said Miller. “He’s a really nice horse to get along with; he does whatever I ask him to do.”

Owned by Bradley Grant, it was the 29th victory of his career. The 6-year-old stallion who pushed his earnings to $1,826,096.

Bythemissal was the winner of the $100,000 Myron Charna President’s Pace Saturday at MGM Northfield Park. Casalinova Photo.

World-champion Bythemissal (Yannick Gingras) overcame post-eight to win the $100,000 Myron Charna President’s Pace, missing a track-record by one-fifth of a second.

Odds On Shaggy (Smith), Fearful Intent (Merriman), and Risenshine Seaside (Wrenn Jr.) all left alertly to Bythemissal’s inside. Still, Yannick was patient with the gelding, settling into fourth around the initial turn. While Odds On Shaggy made the front into the backstretch, he had to brace for an immediate challenge from Risenshine Seaside was able to clear but set a blistering :25.4 pace.

Gingras would wait no longer by the stands for the first time, guiding the son of 2017 Carl Milstein Memorial winner Downbytheseaside to the outside. Leader Risenshine Seaside had nothing for the big horse, and he cruised by eclipsing the half in :53.3.

“He got a little keyed up into the second turn, so I made a move instead of fighting with him,” said Gingras.

With three-eighths of a mile to pace, Gingras asked Bythemissal for a little bit more, and he responded opening up to a 2-1/2 length lead heading to three-quarters in 1:21. Turning for home, it turned into a race against time, with the champion drawing off to win by four lengths in 1:48.2.

“He’s got plenty of speed; we weren’t trying to go after any records tonight,” Gingras said.

It was the second victory in a row for the champion pacer, who is owned by Burke Racing Stable, Eric Good, Rich Lombardo Racing, and Weaver Bruscemi pushed career earnings to $1,342,768.

Live racing resumes on Sunday evening (Aug. 13) at 6 p.m. The track will cease live racing following Sunday’s program for a track regrade project that is expected to last two weeks. Racing is scheduled to resume on Saturday, Aug. 26.