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Northfield, OH — Smoking Jet etched himself into the MGM Northfield Park history books on Sunday (May 15) with a blistering 1:52.4 track-record tying harness racing performance.
The track record for 5-year-old gelding trotters is also held by Joggingtothebank (Kurt Sugg, 2020) and Winning Shadow (Chris Lems, 2021).
Smoking Jet (Ronnie Wrenn Jr.) was a force to be reckoned with against conditioned company, winning five straight, shipping in from Miami Valley Gaming. After a pair of tough losses, Smoking Jet upended his rivals with a seven-length victory
A host of trotters left the gate, but Wrenn was able to gain control of the lead through a quick opening quarter of :27.3. Wrenn was able to get a :29.1 breather, but the fractions proved too challenging for pocket-sitter Refi (Greg Grismore), who made a break at five-eighths.
Entering the backstretch, Wrenn let Smoking Jet out a notch opening up a five-length lead at three quarters in 1:24.3. He powered the Ron Burke trainee home to a :28.1 final quarter to win easily. MVP Luke (Chris Lems) was second, with Cumberland Gap (Jason Thompson) third.
SMOKING JET REPLAY
Owned by Burke Racing Stable, Weaver Bruscemi and Southern Ohio driver Chris Page, Smoking Jet has now amassed $141,952 in career earnings with 14 victories in 71 starts.
With Sherman at the controls Oberto started from post seven and was parked out all the way until he gained command at the top of the stretch and then went on to a five-length triumph in the $7,500 GLADA trot Sunday night (May 15).
When the wings of the mobile gate folded a speed duel ensued between Dominus Hanover (Tim Miller) and Curlys Son (Marion Chupp) with the former gaining command after a 27.3 first quarter. Heading to the half Larry Ferrari moved So Wishful out to challenge and he gained the front-end as he trotted by the half in :58 first half.
Although So Wishful got first call at the three quarters in 1:27 the parked-out Oberto was then head-to-head with him. But when they rounded the final turn Oberto showed his heels to the field and sped to a five-length victory in 1:56. Fulton’s Fury (Eddie Miller) rallied to finish second while So Wishful faded and finished third.
OBERTO REPLAY
Paul O’Neil owns the winner who is trained by Jessica Roegner. It was the seventh seasonal victory for the altered son of Yankee Glide who returned a $2.80 win payoff. For Don Sherman it was his 367th career driving victory.
Live racing continues at MGM Northfield Park on a four-day-a-week schedule, racing Saturday, Sunday, Tuesday and Wednesday, with the first post of 6 p.m.
For complete race results, click here.
by Michael Carter, for MGM Northfield Park, with files from John Manzi
