by Keith Gisser, assistant publicity director, Northfield Park

Northfield, OH — The official track temperature was four degrees, although unofficially the temperature was in the red, but R Cowboy was hot as he took Monday’s (Feb. 5) $7,000 Open Trot at Northfield Park in 2:01.

Lanny Merriman put the 8-year-old Balanced Image gelding on the engine and never looked back, posting a 4-1/2 length win over longshots Willmania and Conductors Timeout.

R Cowboy is owned and trained by Titus Schlabach of Sugarcreek, Ohio. The win, his tenth over the last year plus, pushed his career earnings to $179,545.