by Keith Gisser

Matt Kakaley and Matt Hershey won Saturday’s $11,000 Invitational at Northfield Park in 1:54.2, with a first-over effort.

Kakaley pulled the Mickey Burke-trainee at 3/8 and battled with Tre Bien to the wire, getting the better of the leader in the stretch.

Tre Bien, coming off a month-long freshening, posted fractions of 27.3, 57.4 and 1:26.3 before succumbing. Perfect Door was third.

D. Lloyd Matheson of Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, owns Matt Hershey who picked up his third straight win over the Flying Turns. The 7-year-old Life Sign gelding now sports a summary of 8-3-0-1 $17,660, and has career earnings of $228,071.