by Keith Gisser, assistant publicity director, Northfield Park

Northfield, OH — 22-1 Norman Pheeny, driven by Todd Jones, shocked the field Saturday night at Northfield Park, winning the $10,500 Invitational Pace over 3-5 Brad’s Gold in 1:56.3.

As expected, Cmon Sloopy Hangon, in line to newly named HTA Driver of the Year Dave Palone, took the early lead from post three and posted a leisurely :29 second opening panel and :58.4 half. Norman Pheeny was out and driving from third at that point, and he took control heading up the backstretch the second time as the leader began to tire. Brad’s Gold attempted to rally from fifth, and was second at the top of the stretch, but Norman Pheeny let it out a notch at the top of the stretch to post a two length win.

Jim Pollock, Jr. trains the winner for Leslie Lane of Ostrander, Ohio. A six-year-old Caviart Walton gelding, he won for the first time in three tries this year and pushed his career earnings to $$47,688. Norman Pheeny posted a lifetime standard of 1:53.3 last year at Scioto Downs.

Almahurst Razzle upsets Open Mares

Driver Dave Hawk changed tactics in Friday’s $8,000 Mares Open Pace and the move paid off as he steered Bob Belcher trainee Almahurst Razzle to a 1:57 win.

Second choice Hip Huggers made a break in the first turn, interfering with favored Crystal Clear and opening up the race. True Blue Lu took a short-lived lead, but defending champ M D Jewel took control at the :28.1 quarter and continued to lead at the :58 half as Almahurst Razzle pulled to the outside, followed by Crystal Clear, trying to recover from the first turn mishap. Almahurst Razzle stuck a nose in front as the timer flashed 1:27 at the three-quarter pole, but M D Jewel and Aaron Merriman battled back in the turn. As they straightened away for home, Almahurst Razzle asserted herself to get the win, with M D Jewel second and True Blue Lu third.

Senia Rebecca Lawson of Williamsburg, Kentucky, owns the winner, an eight-year-old Dragon’s Lair mare. The win was the 48th of her career, but first in three tries in 2004. She has banked $291,544 in her career.

And then there were two: For the first time in recent history, the Wall of Fame Trustees were unable to separate two horses for Northfield Park Horse of the Year honors.

Cambest Prince set a 1:51 world record at Northfield Park, and with the exception of a troubled trip that yielded a fourth place finish in the $150,000 Battle of Lake Erie, he was never worse than second over the Flying Turns.

Pacing mare Midnight Jewel led all horses in North America with 25 wins in 2003. 15 of those wins came at Northfield Park, including three against male competition in the track’s Invitational.

The only time the two met was on Saturday, December 27. In the final Invitational pace of the year, Cambest Prince was a head better than Midnight Jewel in a 1:54.4 mile, but not even a head separated the pair statistically in the eyes of the Wall of Fame Trustees.

Cambest Prince (’03 overall) 26-15-2-2 $154,630, 1:51 — Career: $570,403 (’03 at Northfield) 13-11-1-0 $ 68,120 1:51 (Cambest-Last Lark-Raven Hanover) Bay Gelding, Foaled 1996 — Driver: Greg Grismore — Owners: Sam Jacobs and Charles Burris, Jr. of Delaware — Trainer: Jeff Cox

Midnight Jewel (’03 overall) 43-25-4-3 $143,165 1:52.1 — Career: $467,711 (’03 at Northfield) 20-15-2-1 $ 63,405 1:53.1 (Keystone Raider-Anorexia-Dream Maker) Bay Mare, foaled 1997 — Driver: Aaron Merriman — Owners: Linda Marckel and Marty Rudicil of Michigan — Trainer: M. Rudicil

Pass ‘da pasta: live Tuesday racing kicks off its three month run on February 3, featuring the popular 60 second Winning Spree Promotion. Not to be outdone, the clubhouse has also come up with a great Tuesday deal. During live racing Tuesdays, from February through April, the clubhouse will feature your choice of two all-you-care-to-eat pasta dinners for just $7.95. The complete dinners also feature salad, vegetable, rolls and butter, non-alcoholic beverage and chef’s selection dessert.

Must-win Wednesday: The next must-win Tri-Super is Wednesday, February 4, with a $50,000 estimated jackpot. The Tri-Super normally requires patrons to pick the top three horses in the fourth race and the top four finishers in the sixth race in order. In a must-win situation, the wager, which can be played for as little as $2, with the most correct numbers from the start of the bet (not necessarily a perfect wager), wins or shares the jackpot. The current carryover in the Tri-Super is $22,164.03.

Short takes: Northfield opens at 11:00 a.m. on Wednesday, January 21… Plain Dealer harness writer Bob Roberts has been named winner of the 2003 Hervey Award for best harness racing newspaper article for his October piece on Bob Glazer of Peter Pan Stables… Brett Miller presents a check to Dot Morgan of New Vocations in a winner’s circle presentation Friday, January 23, as does a representative of Northfield. Brett donated his 5% driver’s commission to the racehorse retirement program on Mondays in December, with Northfield matching the earnings. New Vocations will receive $3,693.