by Ayers Ratliff, Northfield Park Publicity Department

Northfield, OH — The Cleveland Trotting Classic, Northeast Ohio’s newest premier race, is scheduled for its inaugural edition on Friday (July 3). The Grand Circuit race is estimated to carry a purse of $180,000 and has drawn an impressive slate of 22 of the best veteran trotters in North America that are eligible to the event.

Market Share leads all eligibles in earnings with $3,685,796. The 6-year-old, although winless this year in three starts, has 25 lifetime victories and sports a mark of 1:50.2 at Harrah’s Philadelphia. In 2012 Market Share won the $1,500,000 Hambletonian at the Meadowlands, the $1,030,000 Canadian Trotting Classic at Mohawk Racetrack, the $235,000 American-National at Balmoral Park and the $108,000 Galt at Maywood Park. In 2013 Market Share won the $526,710 Maple Leaf Trot at Mohawk Racetrack, the $600,000 Breeders Crown at Pocono, the $200,000 American-National at Balmoral Park and the $500,000 TVG Free For All at the Meadowlands. Last year Market Share was successful in the $250,000 Maxie Lee at Harrah’s Philadelphia and the $162,000 Dayton Trotting Derby at Hollywood Dayton Raceway.

Daylon Magician is the other millionaire of the bunch with $1,847,324 to his credit and a lifetime mark of 1:51.1 at Mohawk Racetrack. The 7-year-old has 30 lifetime wins, the richest being the $1,020,000 Canadian Trotting Classic at Mohawk Racetrack in 2011. The trotter already has five wins this year and has not been worse than third in his seven starts in 2015.

DW’s NY Yank just won a $26,000 Open Handicap at the Meadowlands. That triumph increased his seasonal win tally to five and lifetime victories to 37. The 6-year-old hard-hitting Open trotter has garnered career earnings of $853,414 and sports a 1:51.3 mark at Pocono in 2013.

Il Sogno Dream, in rein to Northfield Park’s runner-up leading driver, Aaron Merriman, scored in his last outing in a $25,000 Open Trot at Scioto Downs. He has won two of four starts this year. The 4-year-old has earned $488,101 with 10 lifetime victories and a 1:52.2 mark at Scioto Downs in May of this year.

Natural Herbie also posted a win in his most recent race, a $15,000 conditioned event at Hoosier Park. The 5-year-old has 25 lifetime wins including the $200,000 Indiana Sire Stake final in 2012 and 2013 and the $250,000 International Trot Preview at Yonkers Raceway in 2014. Natural Herbie has $770,991 in career earnings and a mark of 1:51.4 at the Meadowlands.

The Cleveland Trotting Classic will be well-supported with an undercard featuring multiple $40,000 divisions of Ohio Sires Stakes for freshman filly pacers and trotters.

Numerous fan-friendly attractions are on tap, including a t-shirt toss from the winner’s circle by the successful driver of each race, driver meet-and-greets and commemorative poster signings throughout the evening, Harness Racing Bingo offering more than $1,000 in cash and prizes, country band Six String Cowboy performing on the apron from 6-10 p.m., and spinning of the Northfield Park Prize Wheel for cash and prizes from 8-9:30 p.m.

Lady Luck’s Clubhouse Restaurant will be offering a $19.95 picnic-themed buffet special. Reservations are preferred and can be made by calling 330.467.4101.

First race post time for the inaugural Cleveland Trotting Classic card is 6 p.m. Parking and admission are always free at Northfield Park.