by Ayers Ratliff, Northfield Park Publicity Department

Northfield, OH — Northfield Park’s leading driver Josh Sutton drove seven winners on Monday (June 16). This accomplishment came a mere five days after a freak mishap while driving at Scioto Downs this past Wednesday, where a thrown shoe flew back and struck him in his face. Sutton was transported to Ohio State University Medical Center in Columbus, Ohio, where he received 17 stitches.

“The worst pain I feel is not so much my face, it is in my mouth,” explained Sutton. “The shoe moved two of my teeth back and they had to put them back in place.”

JJ Zamaiko photo

Gale Force Hanover won the final of the Gin Blossom Trotting Series, one of seven winning drives on the card for Josh Sutton.

Sutton did not drive on Thursday, but did not take long to recuperate. He was back in action on Friday at Scioto Downs, winning two races, and then added six more on Saturday.

Among Sutton’s seven victories on Monday at Northfield were all three of the featured events. He scored with Gale Force Hanover ($2.80) in the $15,000 final of the Gin Blossom Trotting Series in race eight for trainer Jeff Hochstetler, Rose Run Logan ($3.80) in the $12,000 Open Trot in race 10, also for trainer Jeff Hochstetler and I Found My Beach ($4.80) in the $12,000 Open Pace in race 11 for trainer Virgil Morgan Jr.

Sutton’s other winners included Fortune Sailor ($4.00) in race one, Impressive Jet ($5.40) in race two, Super Lustre ($4.00) in race three and Chase The Sun ($4.00) in race 13.

Sutton, 32, began driving in 2000 and has since garnered 2,496 career victories and is approaching $14 million in purse earnings. He has posted 229 victories so far this year over Northfield’s Flying Turns, placing him on top of the local driving ranks.

Sutton drives at other racing venues on his days off from Northfield. He has been winning at impressive rates wherever he goes. To date, Sutton has piloted 300 wins so far in 2014, ranking him as the third leading driver in North America. Only Aaron Merriman (352) and Ronnie Wrenn Jr. (305) have more winning drives this year than Josh Sutton.

“I love winning races. It is always fun to win and winning seven in one night makes for a terrific night,” said Sutton. “Things have come together for me this year and I can only hope that things keep going this way.”