by Keith Gisser, assistant publicity director, Northfield Park

Northfield, OH — Favored Semper Fi Hall ($4.20), leased by Trotter R Us for racing purposes, changed tactics to win Monday’s $7,500 Open Trot at Northfield Park, going gate-to-wire in 1:58.

Ken Holliday put the Mike Weller-trainee on the lead and posted fractions of :28.4, :59.1 and 1:29.1 before sprinting home in :28.4 to easily outdistance Stan, with R Cowboy finishing third.

Semper Fi Hall, a son of Balanced Image, has won six of ten starts this year and moved his career bankroll to $385,985 with the win.

Aaron Merriman opened up a three win lead in the driver standings by taking the ninth race with Western Allstar ($6.80) and the tenth with Blue Cruiser ($3.60), but the margin was short-lived as Greg Grismore won the 12th with trotter Rose Run Ferrari, who overcame the eight hole to pay $6.20, and 1-5 chalker Kendal Ridge Brown in the 13th. Merriman now has 150 Northfield wins, while Grismore has 149.