by Keith Gisser, assistant publicity director, Northfield Park

Northfield, OH — Titus Schlabach’s R Cowboy ($4.00) won his third straight Open Trot and fifth in six tries at Northfield on Monday (Jan. 8), overcoming an assigned post eight to win in 1:58.3.

The 8-year-old Balanced Image gelding never saw the pylons in the 2-1/4 length win over Spit Happens. Fraction-setting Striking Genius held on for the show spot.

R Cowboy has won ten times over the last year-plus and has a career bankroll of $175,085.

Aaron Merriman drove R Cowboy, and also scored with Tb’s Western Shooter in the opener and Armadas Rocket in the nightcap. Elliott Deaton also tripled.