‘Tiger’ pounces at Northfield

Northfield, OH – The Open Trot at MGM Northfield Park has been one of the more competitive races week in and week out, and on Monday (April 10), it was no different as Eye Ofa Tiger As (Billy Davis Jr.) upset the talented harness racing field, earning his 37th career victory.

Several charged off the gait, with Eye Ofa Tiger As and Joggingtothebank (Kurt Sugg) dueling into the first turn. Into the backstretch to the quarter, Eye OfAtiger As was able to clear the lead but had to deal with immediate pressure from Killer Instinct (Hunter Myers), clearing after a quarter in :27.4.

Killer Instinct worked out a :28.4 second-quarter breather, with no one taking a swing at the leader into the third turn. Winning Shadow (Chris Lems) was sent outside with three-eighths of a mile to go, with Rose Run Xtra (Ronnie Wrenn Jr.) latching onto his back. While Winning Shadow worked his way to within a length of the lead, he couldn’t get to Killer Instinct, who led at three-quarters in 1:25.

Turning for home, Killer Instinct put away Winning Shadow, but Eye Ofa Tiger As, who bided his time, popped out of the pocket with a sixteenth of a mile to go and cruised by the leader, winning by a length in 1:53.1.

Owned by ACL Stuteri Ab, and Kjell Johansson, the son of Chapter Seven has earned $849,967 for trainer Mark Headworth.

Sauslbrook Genesis (Sunshine Beach, Wrenn Jr.) continued his winning ways later in the program, winning the $19,000 Open Pace by open lengths in 1:49.4.

Carolina Beach (Aaron Merriman), One Last Laugh (Hunter Myers), and Bernie (Ryan Stahl) all left alertly. Carolina Beach cleared rivals moving into the backstretch, but Bernie began his bid for the lead, clearing at the quarter in :26.4.

There wasn’t much movement at the half in a quick :54.4, with Bernie still cruising on the lead. Wrenn sent favorite Saulsbrook Genesis to the outside with three-eighths to go and went right by leader Bernie at three-quarters in 1:22.1.

Through the stretch, Saulsbrook Genesis was geared down by Wrenn, winning by 3-1/2 lengths. Owned by No Recall Stable and trained by Ron Burke, the son of Sunshine Beach has now earned $183,618 with 14 victories in 46 starts.

Live racing resumes on Tuesday evening at 6:00 p.m. Tuesday kicks off the Northfield/Pompano Driver’s Challenge.

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