Northfield, OH — The talk of the toteboard in Sunday’s (Jan. 1) $18,000 Open Trot at MGM Northfield Park was heavily favored Mission Accepted, but when the smoke cleared, Light Blue Movers got a perfect trip and scored an upset.

After an early four-wide tussle through the first turn, Magical Muscle Man (Kurt Sugg) made the lead entering the backstretch. Light Blue Movers (Aaron Merriman) bided his time and took up position in second as they approached the quarter in :27.2.

Moving into the stretch the first time, Sugg got a second-quarter breather with Magical Muscle Man, getting to the half in :56.3.

Heading to three-quarters, the field bunched up with Predator And Prey and Magical Muscle Man matching strides in 1:25.1. Mission Accepted, who was relegated to fifth in the early going, tried to advance four-wide off the last turn, but didn’t have enough as Light Blue Movers came up the passing lane to win by a length in 1:54.4. Predator And Prey finished a game second; Magical Muscle Man was third.

Light Blue Mover got the perfect trip in the $18,000 Open Trot on Sunday evening at MGM Northfield Park.

Light Blue Movers is owned by Timothy Poitinger and has now amassed $135,544 in career earnings. He is trained by Bill Rhoades, who is chasing his 1,000th career training win; the victory in the Open Trot was his 997th career score.

In the co-featured $18,000 Open Pace, Hellabalou (Wrenn) gathered himself after a miscue in the first turn to win in 1:50.2.

Following the favorite’s misstep, Bettor Than Spring (Billy Davis Jr.) got to the lead, but the lead was short-lived as Hellabalou cleared at the quarter in :26.2. Coming to the half, General Idea (Myers) took his shot at Hellabalou with Rockn Motion (Chris Lems) in tow.

After hitting the half in :54.2, Wrenn put the pedal down, opening up by 2-1/2 lengths moving into the backstretch. He was an easy leader to three-quarters in 1:21.3. His closest pursuer, General Idea, had nothing left in the tank to narrow the margin behind the former Adios champion, who won easily by two lengths over long shot General Idea and a hard-closing Dancin Dragon (Merriman).

Hellabalou gathered himself after an early-race miscue to win the $18,000 Open Pace. Casalinova Photography.

With the victory, Hellabalou now has 17 career wins in 48 starts for owners Burke Racing Stable LLC, Eric Good, Weaver Bruscemi and Larry Karr. The win brings his career earnings to $522,004.

Earlier in the program, James Day scored his first career driving win aboard Mancino. Day made the front with Mancino and never gave up the lead, winning in wire-to-wire fashion in 1:54.1.

Live racing continues on Tuesday (Jan. 3), with first post at 6 p.m. For more information on live racing and promotions, visit www.northfieldpark.com.