Rivalry resumes in Halloween Series Final

Northfield, OH — The Halloween Series for distaff harness racing pacers has always shown some of the top younger talent racing in the Midwest. On Sunday (November 26), things will heat up again in the $25,000 Halloween Series Final as Cool Kate, a winner of three straight, and Resurrection Dawn, who will have to overcome post-eight, will square off at MGM Northfield Park.

Cool Kate (Real Desire-Cool Kid Hanover) and Resurrection Dawn (Fear The Dragon-Real Parmesan) only faced one another once throughout the series. Cool Kate got the upper hand last week with a three-length victory.

Unraced at two, the Kathleen Marotta trainee was purchased as a yearling at the Hoosier Classic Sale for just $15,000. She won her maiden voyage at Northville Downs in her 3-year-old season. She then shipped to Harrah’s Hoosier Park to face tougher conditioned company and Indiana Sires Stakes eligibles. While Cool Kate (Aaron Merriman) was racing well in the Midwest, she was scratched from a non-winners of two series final after being injured and was shut down until September of this year.

After being scratched on what was supposed to be her seasonal debut, Cool Kate reeled off four wins in five starts, with her only loss on November 5, where she got a perfect trip and couldn’t get to Ms Hillfiger, who defeated her in 1:54.4. Owned by Marotta Investments LLC and bred by John Lengacher Jr., the talented mare has earned $31,430 in her career.

Resurrection Dawn (Ronnie Wrenn Jr.) will try to upset Cool Kate but will have a tall task ahead of her on Sunday evening, leaving from the outside. The Ron Burke trainee was purchased for $14,000 from the Ohio Selected Sale and sent to the barn of trainer Dustin Arledge.

The filly mainly raced in southern Ohio and on the Ohio Fairs Circuit, where she had mild success but could not break her maiden. She was slow to begin her 3-year-old season but put it all together on May 24 at Eldorado Scioto Downs, earning her first victory.

Following a strong season, she was purchased privately by Burke Racing Stable LLC and Weaver Bruscemi LLC, having won three of her first four starts for her new connections. Resurrection Dawn has proven to be a deep closer and will have to work hard from post-eight on Sunday. The filly has five victories in 38 career starts, with $62,995 in the bank, and was bred by Ed Miller.

Sunday’s power-packed 15-race program gets underway at 6:00 p.m. and features a $10,000 guaranteed $1 Late Pick-4 (R11) and 20-cent Super Hi-5 (R13), both featuring a low 14% takeout.

MGM Northfield Park currently races on Sunday, Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday. In December, Northfield Park will add Saturday nights back through the end of the year. For more information on live racing and promotions, visit here.

by Michael Carter, for MGM Northfield Park