Dudes Sweet Bet fights for upset Open win

Northfield, OH – While several leavers and a torrid pace severely affected the favorites, longshot gate-to-wire winner Dudes Sweet Bet (Dude’s The Man) took advantage of the elements and scored a big victory against a stacked $19,000 Filly and Mare Open field on Saturday (March 18) night at MGM Northfield Park.

Eventual winner Dudes Sweet Bet (Chris Lems) wasted no time clearing inside rivals leaving alertly with a host of others into the first turn. Entering the backstretch, there was a three-wide tussle to the opening quarter as Smothastenesewisky (Eric Tharps Jr.), and Waitforever N (Billy Davis Jr.) challenged the leader. Following a stiff :26.2 opening quarter, the pair tried to work their way past the leader, but Lems was not about to give up the lead, quickly battling back around the second turn.

Into the stretch the first time, Lems continued to take no prisoners making it to the half in a contested :54.3. While Davis guided Waitforever N into second over position, Tharps continued to pressure Dudes Sweet Bet into the clubhouse turn.

While there wasn’t much movement into the backstretch for the last time, Blue Ivy (Aaron Merriman), who was last with three-eighths of a mile to go, was guided to the outside to begin a three-wide bid for the lead. At three-quarters in 1:23.3, Lems tried to get some separation from the rest of the field, leading by 1-3/4 lengths, but champion Blue Ivy continued to advance on the outside.

Turning for home, Dudes Sweet Bet was kept to task, winning easily by a length in 1:53; Blue Ivy, who made up a lot of ground throughout the mile, dug in to be second while Coastal (Luke Ebersole) completed the trifecta.

 For Dudes Sweet Bet, it was the 11th-lifetime victory for the son of Dude’s The Man, who has now earned $239,002 for owner/driver Chris Lems and trainer Jordan Hope.

Live racing resumes on Sunday evening at 6:00 p.m. MGM Northfield Park currently races on Saturday, Sunday, Tuesday, and Wednesday. For more information on live racing and promotions, visit www.northfieldpark.com.

For complete race results, click here.

by Michael Carter, for MGM Northfield Park