Bernie leaving home base for Mindlin Memorial

For nearly three years, a weekend at Bernie’s has meant a trip to MGM Northfield Park. On Saturday (May 6), that will change.

Bernie (Big Jim-Matilda) will leave his home at Northfield for the first time since trainer Jessica Millner and Pod Stable purchased the pacer in June 2020 when he competes in the $100,000 Pacey “The Wizard” Mindlin Memorial Invitational at Miami Valley Raceway. Mindlin was Miami Valley’s on-air handicapper until his death at age 81 in March.

Bernie worked his way through the condition classes at Northfield to become a mainstay in the track’s Open. Since arriving at the northern Ohio half-mile oval, the 7-year-old gelding has hit the board in 82 of 116 races, winning 36 and finishing second 31 times. He has earned more than $470,000.

Earlier this season, Bernie won in a career-best 1:49.3 at Northfield. The time is tied for this year’s fastest mile on a half-mile track.

“It was exciting to get the invitation,” Millner said. “It’s nice to know people are thinking of him. It’s a tough race, they’re definitely not giving away the money, but I think he can handle himself in there. He’s a pretty gritty little fella.

“This will be the first time I’ll take him to a bigger racetrack, the first time away from Northfield. It’s exciting all the way around. Hopefully, we do OK.”

Bernie began his career in Canada but caught Millner’s eye because of his size.

“He’s stocky, which is something I love about him,” Millner said. “He looks like he’s built for a half-mile track. We liked the way he was racing in Canada, and he still fit (some lower conditions). It’s always nice to be able to try them out in those classes and then go up the ranks from there.”

Millner liked Bernie enough to buy the pacer during the height of the coronavirus pandemic in 2020, even as racing was on hold.

“We were a little hesitant, but it paid off,” Millner said. “He’s probably the best horse I’ve ever trained. He’s small but he has a lot of fight. I just have to maintain him; he does all of the work himself. Obviously, he’s proven himself on the racetrack.

“Around the barn, he’s a lovable horse, a pleasure to be around. He’s a very gentle horse. He’ll lay down and I’ll go in and lay down with him. He’s one of my favorites.”

Bernie will start Saturday’s Mindlin Memorial from post two with Kurt Sugg in the sulky. He is 15-1 on the morning line in a field of nine. The 5-2 favorite is Ruthless Hanover, a 6-year-old gelding who brings a six-race win streak to the event for driver George Napolitano Jr. and trainer Tom Cancelliere.

The field also includes Idealsomemagic A (3-1), who won three times in the MGM Borgata Pacing Series and was sixth in the final; Let It Ride N (7-2), who recently had a five-race win streak in the Open Handicap at Miami Valley; Lou’s Pearlman (9-2), the 2021 Little Brown Jug champion; and This Is The Plan (6-1), who just topped $3 million in lifetime purses.

“I’m excited,” Millner said. “Nervous and excited. I get anxious every time (Bernie) races. But he seems to be in one of his best forms right now. He’s having a good year.

“Almost every time he goes to post he surprises me. The (1:49.3) mile, I always thought he had it in him, but I didn’t know if we were going to get it. He can race from anywhere on the racetrack. You can take him back and race him from off the pace and he’s got a shot, or you can put him on the front end. He’s a very versatile horse.”

Millner, a 31-year-old native of Fort Lauderdale, Fla., grew up in a racing family and spent a good bit of time during the early part of her childhood at Pompano Park. She also lived in Canada and upstate New York, where she met her husband, D.J. Millner, while on the Buffalo-Batavia circuit. She has been in Ohio for about a dozen years.

“I took a break (from racing) for a little while and went to school and I have my nursing license,” Millner said. “But every time I try to get out, the horses drag me back in. I love horses. It’s been part of me since I was born. It’s something I love to do. I have five retired Standardbreds at home. I don’t ever see myself being without horses.”

Millner’s stable averages around 25 horses. She got her first training win in 2012 and topped 800 lifetime victories earlier this season. Last year, she topped 100 triumphs (109) and $1 million in purses, both for the first time.

“That was a very nice accomplishment,” Millner said. “I’ve always strived for (100 wins) and it was nice to finally do it. I had a good stable of horses, and everything fell into place.”

Racing begins at noon on Saturday at Miami Valley Raceway.

For complete Saturday race entries, click here.

by Ken Weingartner, for Harnesslink