by Keith Gisser, assistant publicity director, Northfield Park

Northfield, OH — Hidden Affair, in line to 18-year-old J.D. Perrin, cruised to a 1:56.2 win in Friday’s (March 18) $7,000 Mares Open Pace at Northfield, making a bold three-wide move up the backstretch.

John Perrin trains the seven-year-old daughter of Sandman Hanover for Richwood, Ohio’s Thomas Morrow. Her lifetime earnings stand at $94,927 as she won for the fourth time in 11 seasonal starts.

Shutupandkissme and Polo Jenn battled for the lead throughout the first half of the race, with Polo Jenn, on the outside, posting fractions of :27.2 and :57 before Noble Martha made a move to the lead at the 1:26.3 three-quarter-mile mark. Hidden Affair lagged off cover around the clubhouse turn the second time, but exploded up the backside. Noble Martha battled back gamely around the final turn, but Hidden Affair asserted herself in the lane to post the three-quarter length win. A Diamond In June finished third.

When 14-1 Bridie Cam defeated 32-1 JV’s Pazzo by three-quarters of a length, the exotics yielded boxcar numbers. The entire field was affected when the leader, even money favorite Ron’s Lady, broke as she exited the final turn. The exacta yielded $464.60, the trifecta $5,821.60 and the superfecta was a huge $23,837.40 for a $2 ticket.