Three world records set at Northfield Park

A trio of harness racing world record miles were recorded at MGM Northfield Park Saturday night, which was the tracks richest night of the year headlined by the $300,000 Carl Milstein Memorial.

The first and most impressive world record was set in the eighth race, which was the inaugural $100,000 Tom Aldrich President’s Trot for Ohio-Sired by invitation.

Driven by Joe Bongiorno, Weslyn Quest left from post one and parked out Pure Chance (Aaron Merriman) to the opening quarter mile in :26.4 as Refined (Brett Miller) was able to grab the two-hole spot.

Going to the half mile, Pure Chance was still parked outside of Weslyn Quest in :54.4. It was in the backstretch that Weslyn Quest picked up the tempo to the three-quarters in 1:22.3.

Then in the stretch, Bongiorno let Weslyn Quest trot on her own as they won by three-quarters of a length over Refined with Mission Accepted (Chris Page) third.

The time of the race was 1:50.4. The previous world record fastest mile ever by a horse or mare on a half mile track was set in 2006 at Delaware, Ohio by Cash Hall in a 1:51.1 time trial.

A five-year-old mare by Manofmanymissions, Weslyn Quest is trained by Per Engblom for owners Buckstone Land Stock of York, PA and John Barnard of Miami, FL. She paid $6.00 to win. It was her seventh win this year and bettered her previous lifetime mark (1:53 in 2020) by 2.1 seconds.

WESLYN QUEST REPLAY

“We may never again see what she did tonight,” said winning driver Joe Bongiorno. “We knew she would be good tonight. “Per (Engblom) has been good to me, giving me great opportunities like driving this mare.”

In the ninth race, the $100,000 Myron Charna President’s Pace for Ohio-sired by invitational, saw Ocean Rock and driver Dan Noble use the same tactics as Weslyn Quest did, leading from start to finish and setting a world record.

With no real challengers at any point of the race, Page sent Ocean Rock to the lead from post two and cut fractions of :27, :54.4 and 1:21.3 before pulling away from the field to win with ease by five and one-half open lengths in 1:48.1. Grey Dragon (Yannick Gingras) was second with Elver Hanover (Chris Page) third.

A four-year-old gelding by Rockin Amadeus, Ocean Rock is trained by Christi Noble for owner Sandra Burnett of Wilmington, OH and paid $3.00 to win as the wagering favorite.

The previous world record for a four-year-old gelding pacer on a half mile was in 2018 set by Cam’s Valentino in 1:49 at MGM Northfield Park. It was also a lifetime mark for Ocean Rock.

OCEAN ROCK REPLAY

“The track was extremely fast tonight,” Dan Noble said. “He (Ocean Rock) was really strong in the back half. Since he has come back to Northfield he has done really well.”

Then in the tenth race $300,000 Carl Milstein Memorial Invitational Pace for three-year-olds, it was the 6/5 wagering favorite, Charlie May, who stole the race with a brash three-wide move in the backstretch.

It was Bettor Sun (Greg McNair) first on the lead from the rail with Bayfield Beach (Yannick Gingras) grabbing the two-hole spot to the opening quarter in :26. Then Water Sports Teen (Joe Bongiorno coming first-over to take command and lead the field to the half mile in :53.2.

In the backstretch Bayfield Beach had some first-over but it was Charlie May and driver Brett Miller sweeping three-wide and they cleared to the lead by the three-quarters in 1:20.4 and started to pull away.

Then in the stretch, Charlie May held the field at bay, winning by four and three-quarter lengths in 1:48.4. Mysweetboymax (Aaron Merriman) was second with Water Sports Teen third.

The time of the race just rewrote the world record for three-year-old pacers on a half mile track that was tied at 1:49 between Wiggle It Jiggleit (2015) at Harrington Raceway, DE and Betting Line (2016) at Delaware, OH.

Sired by McArdle, it was the third straight win, eighth triumph of the year in ten starts for Charlie May and a lifetime mark. He is trained by Steve Carter for owner Don Tiger of Canonsburg, PA and paid $4.60 to win as the wagering favorite.

CHARLIE MAY REPLAY

“We got a little lucky tonight,” said Brett Miller. “I was pretty confident that once we cleared to the lead, we would be fine. He does tend to relax once he gets to the lead, so I had to keep him going a bit.”

For full race results, click here.

By Steve Wolf, for Harnesslink