by Keith Gisser, assistant publicity director, Northfield Park

Northfield, OH — Bob Troyer’s Candacraigh stalked early pacesetter Five Carat Diamond to the half, moved to the lead and easily held on over Dyna Slick, posting a two and a half length, 2:01 win in the $8,000 Open Trot on Monday at Northfield Park over a track rated slow after heavy rain and warming temps caused the surface to thaw.

Five Carat Diamond posted fractions of :29³ and :59⁴ to the half, but tired badly as Candacraigh and driver Bill Popio saw the time flash 1:30² at the three-quarter pole. He cruised from there. Two-time defending champ Rocky Mountain Sun finished third.

J. R. Millette trains the winner, a five-year-old Pine Chip gelding for Troyer, of Middlefield, Ohio. The win was his first since his owner drove him to victory in the Midwest Regional Consolation Final of the Billings Amateur Series. Monday’s win was the eighth of the 2003-04 season for Candacraigh, who has now earned $38,476 in his career.