by Ayers Ratliff, for Northfield Park

Northfield,OH — Ronnie Wrenn Jr. again topped the local driving ranks in 2016, winning612 races over the Flying Turns. Hisnearest competitor, Aaron Merriman, drove 533 winners. Kurt Sugg (305), Jason Merriman (291) andRyan Stahl (275) completed the top five reinsmen.

Wrenn, 30, resides in Stow, Ohioand now has five driving titles under his belt. He won the dash titles at Northfield Park in 2013, 2014 and 2015. He also won the Northville Downs title in2013.

Ronnie’s 2016 total victory tallywas 690, which ranked him second among all drivers in North America. Only Aaron Merriman (891) had more total winsin 2016 than Wrenn.

Wrenn began driving in 2008 andhas since won 3,658 races and purses in excess of $19 million. Wrenn’s fastest win ever came in the 2015 editionof the $225,000 Jim Ewart Memorial at Scioto Downs aboard Doo Wop Hanover in1:49.2. His richest was with Whataboy inlast year’s $250,000 Ohio Sires Stake final for sophomore colt pacers atNorthfield Park in 1:51.3.

NorthfieldPark’s 2016 leading trainer Brian Loney won 30 more races than any other localconditioner. He garnered 136 victoriesthroughout last year. Michael Dowdallfinished second with 106 wins. SamSchillaci (105), Jessica Millner (85) and Sue Stockwell (69) rounded out thetop five Northfield Park trainers for 2016.

Brian,originally from Hager Hill, Kentucky, now lives in Northfield, Ohio.

Loney,38, scored his first training win with the gelding pacer Stealth Fighter atFairmount Park in 1996. To date, he has1,476 career victories and purse earnings over $4 million. The 2016 Northfield title is the fifth localdash victory for Brian. He has also wontitles at Bluegrass Downs, Fairmount Park, The Red Mile and Thunder Ridge.