Northfield Park wraps up conditioned mini-series

Northfield, OH– The well-received conditioned harness racing mini-series wrapped up Sunday night (Jan. 21) at MGM Northfield Park with a pair of finals for non-winners of $750 per start in 2023.

On the trotting side of things, it was Billy Davis Jr taking down his third series win with Black Hawk Down (Kadabra) for trainer Marion Chupp. With his victory on Sunday, the 6-year-old went over $103,000 in career earnings as he brushed to the top at the half and never looked back.

The pacing final was won by Tap Tap Tap (McArdle) who was able to leave off the wings and land in the pocket. He had swept the first three legs in front stepping fashion, this week however it was a perfect two-hole trip to victory, completing the series sweep for trainer Virginia Wilcox with Chris Lems between the wheels.

The series finals had taken place throughout the last few racing programs at Northfield. It all started with dual events for the ladies on Friday January 12^th. Iwannarocknroll was a fresh face to the Scott Cox barn back in December and had failed to find the winners’ circle in her first four starts. She broke through in the non-winners of $750 per start final to spring the 9-1 mild upset piloted by Chris Lems. Later that night in the non-winners of $1250 per start final, Rockin Requiem completed the series sweep with another dynamite front-stepping score for trainer Steven Harris.  She was driven to victory in all four legs by Elliott Deaton relishing her job on the lead each week.

It was the Billy Davis Jr show on Tuesday, January 16^th as he grabbed a pair of wins for non-winners of $2000 per start. His pacing victory came aboard Up Helly AA for trainer Cory Kreiser as part of a training five bagger. Up Helly AA recovered from a 4^th place finish in leg two to take down the 3^rd leg and the final on the engine both times. The very next race, the red-hot Davis Jr was tired of being the bridesmaid with Pocket Of Terror A. After three straight runner up performances, he was able to flip the script in the final on Master Yossi N besting him by a nose in a thrilling stretch drive.

There was another pair of finals on the card Wednesday, January 17^th for non-winners of $1250 per start. Cory Kreiser became the only trainer to double up as Fancy Expressions made it three straight flipping off cover to catch the favorite in deep stretch. Driven by Aaron Merriman for the first time she kept her perfect season intact. Immediately after that, Hoosier Celebrity and Luke Ebersole worked out a perfect pocket trip utilizing the passing lane to victory. The 7-year-old made it back-to-back winning efforts for trainer Aaron Hamilton with the 8-1 victory on Wednesday evening.

MGM Northfield Park currently races four evenings a week on Saturday, Sunday, Tuesday, and Wednesday. For more information on live racing and promotions, visit www.northfieldpark.com.

For complete race results, click here: US Trotting results.

by Kenny Livengood, for MGM Northfield Park