Strong Opens complete Milstein Memorial undercard

Northfield, OH – On an already stacked harness racing undercard, Wild Wild Western (Western Ideal) and Oberto (Yankee Glide) put together a solid performance in their respective $21,000 Open events on Saturday night (Aug. 12).

In the Open Handicap, Wild Wild Western (Mike Wilder) was put into play early under heavy urging into the first turn. Camouflage Money (Chris Lems) and Dancin Dragon (Aaron Merriman) were leaving to his outside, both finding holes into the backstretch for the first time.

The field was in straight alignment behind Wild Wild Western through a quick opening quarter of :26.1. The Ideal Dancer A (Aaron Merriman) was sent to the outside and was able to flush out Speedy Dominic A (Dexter Dunn) and Dancin Dragon) approaching the half in :55.

Getting to three-quarters in 1:22.3, Dancin Dragon got within 1-1/4 lengths of Wild Wild Western but stalled around the final turn. Off the turn, Camouflage Money took a shot at Wild Wild Western but just missed, with Wild Wild Western winning by a length in 1:50.1.

Owned by Jacobs Creek Racing, A J Altobelli, and J P Deters, he is trained by Norm Parker. He pushed his career earnings to $636,658.

In the $20,000 Open Trot, Oberto stormed home from out of the clouds to win by three-quarters of a length for trainer Jessica Roegner.

Fashion Chocolate (Chris Page) and Twentyfour K Magic (David Miller) both left alertly; Fashion Chocolate inherited an uncontested lead with Twenty Four K Magic breaking through the turn.

Getting to the quarter in :27.1, Fashion Chocolate had to deal with pressure from Eye Ofa Tiger As (Billy Davis Jr.), into the far turn for the first time. Eye Ofa Tiger As momentarily took the lead past the half in :55.3

Into the clubhouse turn for the final time, Fashion Chocolate battled back gamely to take over the top spot. The pair dueled to three-quarters in 1:24.2, with Rose Run Xtra (Ronnie Wrenn Jr.) making a big three-wide sweeping move.

It was wide open, turning for home with Fashion Chocolate turning for home with the lead, while Rose Run Xtra kept coming, it was Oberto (Kurt Sugg) who found his best stride late, working his way past the leaders to win in 1:54.2.

The 7-year-old is owned by Paul O’ Neil and now has $290,340 in the bank.

Live racing resumes on Sunday evening at 6:00 p.m. The track will cease live racing following Sunday’s program for a track regrade project that is expected to last two weeks. Racing is scheduled to resume on Saturday, August 26.

For complete race results, click here.

by Michael Carter, for MGM Northfield Park