Northfield, OH — Nothingbutadreamer (Muscle Mass), handled by Christina Johnson, proved to be a nightmare for the competition as the 4-year-old gelding got picture perfect handling to score a sharp 1:55.2 win in the Great Lakes Amateur Driving Series at Northfield Park on Sunday night (Oct. 6).
Lauren Harmon, the only other female driver in the event, finished second with Magical Journey while Setit And Forgetit was next for Larry Ferrari.
The ladies dominated the race from first stride to last as Magical Journey, leaving from post six, was sent with alacrity off the wings along with Nothingbutadreamer, leaving from post four, as these two were one-two throughout the journey with Magical Journey sawing through panels of :27.3, :57.3 and 1:25.3 with Nothingbutadreamer in the garden spot all the way, tilting out turning for home and wearing down the leader in deep stretch for the win.
In a post-race interview, Johnson related, “Well, it turned out to be a pretty nice journey in the garden spot throughout and my horse responded like the good horse he is when I chirped at him one time in the lane. I guess you could say that we made each other look good.
“It was nice that us ladies were one-two tonight…kind of neat!”
Owned and trained by Betty Clegg, Nothingbutadreamer earned his seventh win of the year in 24 starts to send his 2024 bounty to $39,564 and $155,315 lifetime. For Johnson, it was her ninth success of the year in 33 starts in the sulky and vaulted her UDR over the lofty .390 mark. The winner was off as the 7-5 favorite and paid $4.80 to win with the “ladies” $2 exacta returning $13.40.
The GLADA club is one of several throughout the United States where members donate 100% of their driving earnings in these events, which are earmarked for charitable distribution, to worthy causes from racehorse aftercare and second careers to national organizations such as the Make-A-Wish Foundation.