by Keith Gisser, assistant publicity director, Northfield Park

Northfield, OH — Andy Shetler steered Lucca’s Revenge to a 1:58.3 win in Monday’s (March 5) $7,500 Open Trot at Northfield, but it was Ryan Stahl who earned the headlines. The Republic, Ohio native steered a career best eight winners.

The 28-year-old began the night by piloting 23-1 Bondageanddiscipan to victory and also took the nightcap with 9-1 Missy Bebad. That win, combined with his 13th race victory with 5-1 Pacific Northwest, kicked off a $62.20 Late Double. Stahl also swept the second Pick Three (races 6-8) with 4-1 That’s Textbook, 7-1 Miller Please and favorite The Warlord. The latter two are both trained by Mike Weller, who also conditioned fourth race winner Hoppys Fling N, who Stahl piloted.

In the Open Trot, Shetler drove Lucca’s Revenge into the two hole and took over around the final turn when leader Striking Genius faltered. Big Boy Josh was second and Big Charmer finished third, while 4-5 favorite R Cowboy never fired.

Lucca’s Revenge won for the first time in four starts this year, after winning 11 times in 2006. Kevin Ehrhardt trains the 5-year-old Corleone gelding for Don Shaffer and Charles Ferrette.

Miller Time begins Friday

Northfield Park photo

Brett Miller will return to Northfield Park on Friday.

Former Northfield driving champ Brett Miller will make Northfield his base of operations beginning Friday, March 9, and will remain at the Route Eight Oval until Hoosier Park opens in April.

The 2000 Northfield driving champ has spent time racing at a number of tracks over the past several years, but has always hung his tack at Northfield for at least a portion of the year.

Miller has won 4,154 races in his career, while posting purse earnings of $20,562,677. The 33-year-old ranked 13th in North America in both wins and Universal Driver Rating in 2006.