$918,000 in purses at MGM Northfield Park

The $300,000 Carl Milstein Memorial goes to post this Saturday (August 14) at MGM Northfield Park.  The Milstein is for nine 3-year-old harness racing pacers and is Northfield Park’s premier racing event.  A race by invitation only, the Milstein is slated as race 10 on a 16-race program which carries a 6:00 pm first-race post time.  The feature will start at approximately 9:35 PM.

This year’s Milstein Memorial program carries total purses of more than $918,000.  The program includes the $100,000 Myron Charna President’s Pace, a race for older Ohio-sired pacers (by invitation only), the $100,000 Tom Aldrich President’s Trot, a race for older Ohio-sired pacers (by invitation only), three $40,000 divisions of Ohio Sires Stakes for 2-year-old trotting colts and geldings, two $50,000 divisions of Ohio Sires Stakes for 3-year-old trotting colt and geldings, two $50,000 divisions of Ohio Sires Stakes for 2-year-old pacing colts and geldings, as well as three $20,000 Open events. 

A $20,000 All Stakes Pick-5 guaranteed pool starts in race six and includes two Sires Stakes events, the Aldrich, Charna and the Milstein.  

For FREE Daily Racing Form past performance lines check out the Northfield page on DRF.com. 

Here is a look at the nine contenders:

#1 Bettor Sun drew the rail for top Canadian conditioner Gregg McNair and is an 8-1 morning-line contender.  Bettor Sun enters this event off a third-place finish in a $127,680 Ontario Sires Stake event, pacing home in a :26.4 final quarter.  This son of Sunshine Beach has five career wins and has finished in the top-three in 12 of 18 lifetime starts.  He has $244,745 in career earnings for owners Willow Oak Ranch and Gregg McNair.  Bettor Sun sports a 1:49 (Wbsb 7/8) lifetime mark.  Douglas McNair travels south of the border to drive.   

#2 Water Sports Teen drew post two and is the 3-1 second choice.  He has won four of his last five races, getting passed in the stretch in the $375,000 Adios at The Meadows in his most recent race.  This top sophomore by Somebeachsomewhere has finished in the top three in 13 of 17 races this year, with eight victories.  His 1:48.2 (Mea 5/8) mark is the fastest in the race and has earned $133,696 this year for owner Joshua Graber of Quincy, Michigan.  Joe Bongiorno will drive for his sister, trainer Jennifer Bongiorno.  

#3 Rockin On Venus is 10-1 on the morning line.  He enters this race off a win over the Flying Turns.  This son of Rockin Image has won eight of 12 this year.  He has been an Indiana Sires Stake standout and posted a victory in the $85,000 Hoosier Cup last month.  This Kelly O’Donnell trainee has banked $118,625 in purses and has drawn post-3.  O’Donnell is a Northfield Park Wall of Famer.  Rockin On Venus is owned by Emerald Highlands Farm of Mount Vernon, Ohio. Buckeye native Tyler Smith gets the drive on Rockin on Venus in Saturday’s main event.    

#4 Alilthundadownunda is the hottest horse in Minnesota.  This North Star State phenom enters tonight’s event putting his 8-race win streak on the line.  He sports a $100,324 bankroll and 1:53.4 (Aces 5/8) mark.  He is a son of Malak who has 14 career victories, winning 10 of 15 races so far this year for owner Set the Pace Racing LLC of Chisago City, Minnesota.  He is trained by Jessica Johnson and Top Ohio reinsman Chris Page will drive the Minnesota shipper for the first time.  This 20-1 morning-line contender starts from post 4.  

#5 Bayfield Beach drew post five and makes his debut for Hall of Fame trainer Ron Burke after changing hands in a recent private purchase .  This stakes contender is one of two colts in this field by Somebeachsomewhere and has made the ticket in 12 of 20 lifetime races.  He is owned by Burke Racing Stable, Weaver Bruscemi LLC, J&T Silva Stables and Rich Lombardo Racing.  Bayfield Beach has $276,876 in earnings and will be driven by Yannick Gingras.  This 6-1 contender has a career best 1:52.1 (Mea 5/8).  

#6 Mysweetboymax is a legitimate stakes contender that has been plagued with bad luck in both the $375,000 Adios and $500,000 Messenger.  This Sweet Lou colt finished in the top-three 12 of 21 races and holds a 1:51.3 (Phl 5/8) lifetime mark.  The Sam De Pinto trainee has earned $95,600 for owners Robert and Brandon Horowitz.  Northfield Park leading driver Aaron Merriman drives this contender from post-6 with a 12-1 morning-line.  Merriman is the reigning North American dash champion and has won more races at Northfield Park than any other driver throughout the track’s history.   

#7 Charlie May enters the Milstein as the top money earner in the field, despite being disqualified for interference after crossing the wire a winner in the $700,000 Meadowlands Pace last month.  Since that disqualification, the son of McArdle has scored two straight wins against Ohio-breds, one being at Northfield.  The Steve Carter trainee has banked $578,477 in purses throughout his young career but drew post seven in Saturday’s main event for owner Don Tiger of Canonsburg, Pennsylvania.  Charlie May’s regular pilot Brett Miller will drive this 5-2 morning-line favorite from post seven.

#8 Chase H Hanover drew the outside for trainer Scott Cox, who owns the Captaintreacherous colt with Jason Ash and is a 15-1 morning-line longshot in this field.  This solid open-stakes contender has finished in the top-three in 15 of 20 career starts and has earned $383,085.  His 1:51 (Phl 5/8) mark was paced last year as a freshman.  Cox calls upon the services of leading Northfield pilot Ronnie Wrenn, Jr. to drive from post-8.  

#9 Heart Of Chewbacca, 2020 Ohio Sires Stakes runner-up to Charlie May, drew post nine and is the 9-2 third choice.  Heart of Chewbacca has won 10 of 17 career efforts and has earned $329,023.  Harness racing’s all-time leading trainer Ron Burke conditions this colt for Ohio owners Dennis Owens and Norman Rae Racing LLC.  Dan Noble will drive this Bring The Beach colt with a 1:48.4 (ScDn 5/8) lifetime mark.

by Ayers Ratliff, for MGM Northfield Park