Killer Instinct, Bernie cruise in $19,000 features

Northfield, OH – Killer Instinct (Southwind Frank) has not had much luck with the harness racing draw over the past few weeks, but on Sunday (Apr 23), everything clicked as he took down the $19,000 co-featured Open Trot at MGM Northfield Park.

With inside rivals Rose Run Xtra (Ronnie Wrenn Jr.), Barn Hall (Aaron Merriman), and Eye Ofa Tiger AS (Billy Davis Jr.) all jostling for position, Hunter Myers decided to be patient and allow the pace to develop in front of him with Killer Instinct.

Entering the backstretch, Eye Ofa Tiger As had to work hard to clear Rose Run Xtra, but at the quarter in :28, Wrenn would not sit in the two hole and would clear entering the far turn for the first time.

Kicking clear by about 1-1/2 lengths, Rose Run Xtra got to the half in :56.3 with no one taking a swing at the favorite. With three-eighths of a mile to go, Myers tipped Killer Instinct to the outside with last week’s upsetter Parshall (Jason Thompson), in tow.

At three-quarters in 1:25.1, Wrenn braced for the challenge of Killer Instinct, who forged his way to the front, working past Rose Run Xtra through the stretch, winning by 1-1/4 lengths in 1:53.3. Eye Ofa Tiger As dug in to be second, while Rose Run Xtra faded to be third.

KILLER INSTINCT REPLAY

Owned by Corey Hendrick and trainer Melanie O’Donnell the son of champion Southwind Frank has now earned $283,006 in 87 career starts, making 32 trips to the winner’s circles.

Fresh off a second-place effort against Open company last week, barn pet Bernie (Big Jim) continued his recent form returning to the winner’s circle in the $19,000 Open Pace on Sunday evening 

It was no easy task for Bernie (Ryan Stahl) to get to the lead as he had in recent weeks, with several horses leaving to his inside. He rode second over cover behind One Last Laugh (Myers) into the backstretch for the first time. He had to work very hard to make the lead and finally go there at a the quarter in a very quick :26.

Getting to the half in a contested :54.2, Bernie began to brace for a challenger with the outer flow developing in the form of Carolina Beach (Aaron Merriman) and Rockn Motion (Wrenn), with Elliot Moose (Kurt Sugg) in hot pursuit third over.  

The battle continued past three-quarters in 1:22.1, with Rockn Motion tipping three-wide and Almanac (Davis) fanning four-wide for the drive, turning for home it looked like anyone’s race to win or lose. Bernie was kept to task through the stretch, winning by 2-1/2 lengths in 1:51.1 over Alamac and Carolina Beach.

BERNIE REPLAY

Owned by the POD Stable and trainer Jessica Millner, the talented son of Big Jim eclipsed $500,000 with the victory. It was his fifth win of the season in 16 starts, with 39 career victories to his credit. 

With the Pick-5 going un-hit on Sunday evening, there will be a carryover of $6,145 going to Tuesday’s (April 25) Pick-5 that begins in race six. 

The low 14%, $1.00 minimum wager is estimated to eclipse $50,000.  The Pick-6, featured nightly in race eight also went uncovered on Sunday, it will feature a carryover of $1,987.

Live racing resumes on Tuesday evening at 6:00 p.m. There will be no racing on Easter Sunday (April 9). MGM Northfield Park currently races on Saturday, Sunday, Tuesday, and Wednesday. 

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For complete race results, click here.

by Michael Carter, for MGM Northfield Park