by Keith Gisser, assistant publicity director, Northfield Park

Northfield, OH — Don Shaffer and Charles Ferrette’s Coastal Wind won his second straight Northfield Park Invitational Pace on Saturday, closing from sixth early to post a three-quarter length win over Life Sizzles in 1:55.1 over a sloppy track. Kevin Ehrhardt trains the winner, who posted his 11th seasonal victory.

Life Sizzles set the pace, as Greg Grismore steered him to fractions of :27.2, :56.4 and 1:24.4. Iwasborntoboogy N coasted along in the pocket, eventually finishing third as favored Coastocoast Yankee challenged first over on the outside. Norman Pheeny followed him and Coastal Wind followed Pheeny. Ken Holliday tipped the six-year-old son of Harbor Loop wide around the final turn to get up for the win.

Although he was foiled with Life Sizzles in the Invite, it was a banner day for Greg Grismore, who won seven of the night’s 14 races, including the $90.60 late daily double with 8-1 Shambest and 5-1 My Fella.

19 on the Year For Magic Sugar

Magic Sugar and Brett Miller cruised to victory in Friday’s $8,000 Fillies and Mares Open Handicap Pace, going gate-to-wire in 1:57.4 over a track generously rated as good.

The mud was flying as the six-year-old daughter of Cam’s Magic Trick posted fractions of :28.2, :59 and 1:27.4 en route to the win. Last week’s winner, Miss Thrill, never fired, and in fact there was little outside flow to speak of at any time in the race. Pocket sitting A Diamond In June held off a passing lane effort from Polo Jenn to hold the place spot.

Jenny Belcher owns and trains the winner.

The win was one of five on the card for Brett Miller, who also scored with favorites Brooklyn Bloomer, Princess Regal N and Gwinnie Can Do and 7-1 outsider Ali’s Little Bunny.

Feed the world: Or at least the Northern Summit County area. Once again this year, Northfield’s $50,000 Santa Sack will benefit the Emergency Assistance Center of Macedonia.

Patrons who bring a non-perishable food item to the special Thursday night of live racing on December 23 receive free admission to the track, win an instant prize and are eligible to win one of 25 grand prize drawings.

Patrons can also pay the regular $1.75 grandstand or $3.00 clubhouse admission to win instantly and be eligible for the grand prize drawings, which feature a mountain bike, a DVD recorder, and the top prize, a $3,700 Video Arcade system featuring over 30 games.

First race post time is 7:00 p.m. for the special Thursday night of live racing at Northfield on December 23.

Do they know it’s Christmastime?: The holiday season requires several adjustments to Northfield’s normal schedule of operation.

As mentioned above, there is live racing on Thursday, December 23.

There will be no live racing on Christmas Eve, but Northfield will offer afternoon simulcast action from Calder, Philadelphia Park, The Fairgrounds, Hawthorne and Monticello Raceway, wrapping up between 4:30 and 5:00 p.m.

Northfield is closed on Christmas Day.

The following week, Northfield will operate on its regular schedule with the exception of New Year’s Eve. Although offering a full menu of simulcast action beginning at 12:25 p.m. and ending after 12:00 midnight, there will be no live racing on Friday, December 31.

There’s no need to be afraid: Don’t worry, spots are still available in Northfield’s final qualifying tournament for the $1,000,000 Coast Casinos Horseplayer World Series.

The top two finishers on Sunday, December 19, based on 100 entrants, receive entry to the tourney, round trip airfare to Las Vegas and three nights of lodging during the finals, held the last weekend in January.

The top five finishers at Northfield take home betting vouchers, with $500 going to the winner, down to $100 for fifth place.

The entry fee for the afternoon tourney is just $50. A $200 buy-in is required, but since this is a real-money contest, handicappers keep the balance of their account at the end of the competition.

Call Dave Bianconi at (330) 467-4101, ext. 213 for more details.

Spread a smile of joy: “What a trip down memory lane! Reading this book was like opening an old, beloved photo album. And it was well-written and almost conversational — so very easy to read. You can see the author has a refreshing sense of humor, too. A book well worth the read! I recommend it to anyone.”

That’s what an Amazon.com reviewer is saying about Northfield Park-Images of Sport, the photo history of the track written by your humble scribe.

On Saturday, December 18, Northfield is hosting an author’s book signing on the main floor of the grandstand, from 6:30-9:30 p.m.

The book, with over 200 historic photos of the track, sells for $19.99, but Players Club members and OSRC licensees are entitled to a $3.00 discount.