Northfield OH– Lady Rita and Aaron Merriman didn’t complicate things on Saturday evening (Jan. 31). The mare fired to the front before they were off the straightaway heading into turn one. After taking control immediately she led the field single file for nearly 5/8ths of a mile. The sustained pressure for the remaining 3/8ths of a mile came from her stablemate Jumpingjoy N (Chris Lems). Jumpingjoy N and Lady Rita battled side by side for the final strides but ultimately ‘Rita’ dug in to win her third consecutive Filly and Mare Open Pace.
The 6-year-old daughter of Always B Miki-Big City Betty won her 19th lifetime race with seven of them coming at the open level. The win pushed her career earnings to $274,018. She is conditioned by Sam Schillaci and owned by Paul O’Neil of Saratoga Springs, NY.
Live racing resumes Sunday (Feb. 1) with 14-races and a monster sized carryover of $30,407 in the pick-5.