Southwind Amazon notches up 124th win

Northfield, OH – 13-year-old warhorse Southwind Amazon (Camluck) eclipsed two milestones on Sunday (Jan 22) at MGM Northfield, surpassing Breeze On J for fourth in all-time wins and pushing his harness racing earnings to over $1.4 million.

Winless in three starts this season, Southwind Amazon (Billy Davis Jr.) looked like a version of his old self on Sunday, winning an upper-level pacing event by a length.

Davis made the lead through the first eighth of a mile with Southwind Amazon but set a torrid pace early getting to the quarter in :26.3.

Coming to the half, Southwind Amazon didn’t face any challengers allowing Davis to get a :28.4 breather. Heading into the clubhouse turn the final time, 2020 Carl Milstein Memorial winner Odds On Osiris (Ronnie Wrenn Jr.) tried to make a bid at the leader. Feeling the pressure, Davis stepped on the gas, opening up to a two-length lead, but heading to the three-quarter pole in 1:23, Captainofrocknroll (Luke Ebersole) with Odds On Osiris in tow.

Turning for home, Southwind Amazon had more left in the tank to win in 1:52.3 over Alamanc (Aaron Merriman), who closed to be second, while Odds On Osiris settled for third.

SOUTHWIND AMAZON REPLAY

“He’s been an absolute blast to train for seven years now; he is like my son,” said jubilant trainer Paul Holzman.

Southwind Amazon is trained Holzman and owned by Ameer Najor.

In the $18,000 Open Pace on Sunday night, Bettor Than Spring (Davis Jr.) returned to the winner’s circle for the first time since mid-December.

Leaving from post three, Davis put Bettor Than Spring on the lead and was able to get to the quarter in a leisurely :27.

Bettor Than Spring continued to set a leisurely pace getting to the half in :55.1 with Dancin Dragon (Kurt Sugg), who had been parked from the word go pressuring the pace.

Moving up the backstretch, Davis kicked out the plugs and cruised to three-quarters in 1:23.2.

Benefitting from outer-tier horses getting stacked up by a tiring Dancin Dragon, he turned for home with a 1-1/2 length lead. Through the stretch, One Last Laugh (Chris Lems), Bronx Seelster (Wrenn Jr.), and Bernie (Ryan Stahl) all took shots at Bettor Than Spring, who had more in the tank, winning by a half-length in 1:52.1.

BETTOR THAN SPRING REPLAY

Bettor Than Spring has now earned $586,414 for owner Thunder Racing Stables Inc and trainer Cory Kreiser.

Live racing resumes on Tuesday night at MGM Northfield Park with a first post of 6:00 p.m

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For full race results, click here.

by Michael Carter, for MGM Northfield Park