Southwind Bella wins Northfield feature

Northfield, OH — Fresh off a third-place effort to Strong Poison in the USS Indianapolis at Harrah’s Hoosier Park, Southwind Bella (Huntsville) found her best stride on Sunday (Nov. 19), winning the $18,000 Filly and Mare Distaff harness racing feature at MGM Northfield Park.

Following a fifth-place effort in the $100,000 Courageous Lady, trainer Ron Burke shipped Southwind Bella to Northfield Park, where she scored an impressive victory from post seven against conditioned company. She returned to the winners’ circle on Sunday night with another outstanding effort from an outside draw.

Adashious Hanover (Elliot Deaton) and Mystical Virgin (Kurt Sugg) were both hustled off the wings and dueled into the opening turn, with Adashious Hanover clearing before entering the backstretch. Southwind Bella (Ronnie Wrenn Jr.) came away cleanly in third, and heading to the quarter, Wrenn stepped on the gas, clearing Adashious Hanover past a :27.3 opening fraction.

With the field in straight alignment to the half, Wrenn tried to get somewhat of a breather but continued to set decent fractions, eclipsing the second quarter in :55.3. Up the backstretch, Wrenn only had to ask Southwind Bella for a little bit as she quickly opened up a three-length lead heading to three-quarters in 1:23.1.

Southwind Bella was confidently handled through the stretch, winning by 2-1/2 lengths in 1:52.2 over Fairiesdelight A (Aaron Merriman) and Adashious Hanover.

SOUTHWIND BELLA REPLAY

Owned by Burke Racing Stable, Weaver Bruscemi, B. Jablonsky, and Lombardo/Green Racing, the talented filly pushed her career earnings to $238,495.

Live racing resumes on Monday (November 20) evening at 6:00 p.m. MGM Northfield Park currently races on Sunday, Monday, 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 Michael Carter, for MGM Northfield Park