by Ayers Ratliff, Northfield Park Publicity Department

Northfield, OH — The Carl Milstein Memorial, Northeast Ohio’s premier race, will go to post Friday (Aug. 14) at Northfield Park. The Milstein’s $405,000 purse is the largest ever in Northfield’s 58-year history and has attracted some of the best 3-year-old colt pacers in North America. The Grand Circuit race is the featured event of a stakes-laden program that offers total purses of $663,500.

1 – Go Daddy Go draws the rail for trainer Robert McIntosh and owners Robert McIntosh Stables, Inc. and Diamond Creek Racing. With five wins to his credit and finishing in the top three in 13 of 21 starts, this colt has $438,648 in earnings and a career best of 1:51.1 at the Meadowlands. The son of Ponder has a victory in a $56,000 leg of the Ontario Sires Stakes Gold Series this year. He won last year’s $199,769 Battle of Waterloo at Grand River Raceway, a $36,400 Metro elimination at Mohawk and a $25,000 Breeders Crown elimination at the Meadowlands. Peter Wrenn, who won the Battle of Lake Erie with Dare You To in 1991, has been given the driving assignment with a morning line of 15-1.

2 – Lyons Levi Lewis is one of two sons of Well Said in this year’s edition of the Carl Milstein Memorial. He has won three and finished in the top three in 12 of 19 career races, taking a 1:50.4 mark at the Meadowlands and bankrolling $390,026. This colt is owned by Joseph Lyons-Mound and trained by Ron Burke, who won last year’s inaugural edition of this event with All Bets Off. Lyons Levi Lewis was the winner of a $113,270 Champlain Stakes division at Mohawk in 2014 and was victorious in his most recent effort in a conditioned race at Harrah’s Philadelphia on Aug. 2. Burke has enlisted Northfield Park’s leading driver, Ronnie Wrenn Jr., to drive this 10-1 morning line contender. Wrenn was the North American dash winner for both 2013 and 2014.

3 – Lost For Words sports career earnings of $378,642. He has 21 lifetime starts with nine wins and 16 top-three finishes. This colt is a son of Well Said with a lifetime mark of 1:49.3 at Harrah’s Philadelphia. Lost For Words is Buckeye-owned by the partnership of Country Club Acres, William Robinson, Richard Lombardo and Strollin Stables. He is trained at the historic Delaware County Fairgrounds by Brian Brown. Last year Lost For Words won two divisions of the Pennsylvania Sires Stakes, the $58,045 Standardbred at the Delaware County Fair, a $72,000 International Stallion Stakes division at the Red Mile and an $82,250 Bluegrass Stakes split, also at the Red Mile. This year he has won three divisions of the Pennsylvania Sires Stakes. He has been assigned a morning line of 4-1 and is scheduled to have the driving services of Ohio native and Hall of Famer David Miller.

4 – Wiggle It Jiggleit has been named the 3-5 morning line favorite by Northfield Park Executive Vice President of Racing and Simulcasting Dave Bianconi. He is the richest horse in this event with $993,144 in earnings. Wiggle It Jiggleit’s 1:47.4 mark at the Meadowlands is the fastest in this field. This gelded son of Mr Wiggles has 15 wins to his credit in 17 starts. He was victorious this year in the $47,124 John Simpson Memorial at the Meadowlands, the $58,000 “Buddy” Gilmour Series final at the Meadowlands, a $75,000 Indiana Sires Stakes final at Hoosier Park, the $500,000 Hempt Memorial at The Downs at Mohegan Sun Pocono and the $706,000 Meadowlands Pace final at the Meadowlands. Wiggle It Jiggleit is trained by Clyde Francis for owner George Teague Jr. Inc. Montrell Teague has been named to drive.

5 – Allbeef N Nobull is one of two horses in this race for Ron Burke, the leader of all North American trainers in both wins and earnings. This son of McArdle is owned by the partnership of Burke Racing Stable, Donald Emond, Howard Taylor and Weaver Bruscemi. Allbeef N Nobull was undefeated in four starts last year and has posted three wins in 11 starts this year, including a victory in a leg of the Pennsylvania Sires Stakes, where he took his 1:51 mark at Harrah’s Philadelphia. He has $119,470 in earnings and enters the Milstein off a 1:54.1 win at Yonkers Raceway. This 12-1 morning line selection is scheduled to be driven by Chris Page.

6 – Rock N’ Roll World is owned by the partnership of Jeffrey Snyder and Three Decades Racing LLC. This colt has 23 career starts, winning three races and finishing in the top three 15 times. His 1:50.3 lifetime mark at the Meadows came on Aug. 1 in the $50,000 Adios consolation. Rock N’ Roll World is a son of Rocknroll Hanover and has career earnings of $219,518. Trainer Mark Silva has listed current North American leading dash driver Aaron Merriman to pilot this 20-1 morning line contender. Merriman, the youngest inductee ever enshrined in Northfield Park’s Wall of Fame at age 36, has won more races than any other driver in the track’s 58-year history.

7 – The Wayfaring Man enters this event off two straight wins at Mohawk, taking his 1:51 lifetime mark in his most recent race on Aug. 8. His victories include a win in last year’s $39,744 Dream Maker Series final at Mohawk. He is one of two horses in this event by Dragon Again, the 2000 Battle of Lake Erie champion. The Wayfaring Man has six wins in 19 starts, earning $96,233. Bruno Comegna owns this colt and Nicky Comegna is his conditioner. Dan Noble is scheduled to pilot the 25-1 morning line contender.

8 – Wakizashi Hanover enters this event for owner Tri County Stable and trainer Joann Looney-King. This son of Dragon Again has eight wins and 14 top-three finishes in 16 starts. His victories this year include a $32,000 Pennsylvania All-Stars race at Pocono, a $58,842 division of the Pennsylvania Sires Stakes at Pocono and the $810,000 North America Cup at Mohawk. This gelding has a 1:48 lifetime mark at Mohawk and earnings of $743,991. National driving star Tim Tetrick is coming in to drive this 9-2 contender.

The race is named in honor of Carl Milstein, who owned and operated Northfield Park from 1984 until his death in 1999. His son, Brock Milstein, immediately took over as Chairman of Northfield Park and is now also the Chairman of Milstein Entertainment, LLC, majority owner of the Hard Rock Rocksino Northfield Park.

In 1972, the senior Milstein, a Cleveland builder and real estate developer, headed a group of several partners, including George Steinbrenner, who purchased Northfield Park. They leased the facility to other operators through the early 1980s. The track lost significant amounts of money during that period before Milstein took full ownership and control. In late 1984 he successfully applied to the Ohio State Racing Commission for the necessary licenses and, beginning in January 1985, conducted permanent race meetings at Northfield of between 212 and 238 days every year.

Milstein was the driving force behind a resurgence of the beleaguered track, which ascended to among harness racing’s top tracks in attendance and handle. He was an innovator in promotions and advertising and successfully led the track into the era of simulcast racing.

Another added attraction on the track will be the “Legends Driver Challenge,” featuring Northfield’s leading drivers of days gone by. Last year’s winner, Dan Ross, will try to defend his title against Gerry Bookmyer, William Irvine, Keith Kash and Don McKirgan, as well as newcomers Jeff Fout, Del S. Miller and William Popio. The eight veteran reinsmen have all won driving titles at Northfield during a span that covered the 1970s, 1980s and 1990s.

The Milstein crowd will enjoy food trucks on the outdoor apron from 6-10 p.m. and Northfield Park dice games and the Majic 105.7 prize wheel with Chip Kullik from 7-9 p.m. Classic rock band Unknown Reason will be performing on the trackside apron from 6-10 p.m. ESPN Cleveland WKNR’s Bruce Hooley will be broadcasting live from 5-7 p.m.

Lady Luck’s Clubhouse Restaurant will be offering a $19.95 signature buffet, inspired by Hard Rock Rocksino Executive Chef Chris Poplin. Due to the expected large crowd, reservations are highly recommended and can be made by calling 330.467.4101.

First race post time for the Carl Milstein Memorial card is 6 p.m. Parking and admission are always free at Northfield Park.