For more information on items in Keeping Pace, contact Keith Gisser at 330-467-4101x215, or by e-mail at info@northfieldpark.com
KEEPING PACE with Keith Gisser
August 30, 2010
REST FROM YOUR LABOURS- Labor Day is fast approaching and Northfield Park is the place to be for the Holiday weekend. Saturday, September 4, the track hosts its richest night of the year, with $250,000 in stakes races including four Scarlet and Gray Stake Finals and Ohio Sires Stakes for three-year-old colt and gelding pacers and trotters… Saturday is also the last night this season to enjoy the great ribs, pulled pork and cold beer at the Trackside Barbecue and Pavilion… Labor Day Monday, there is no live racing at Northfield, but the track opens at noon for simulcasting with action from top early thoroughbred tracks including Saratoga, Monmouth Park, Philadelphia Park and more. A total of twenty thoroughbred and ten harness tracks are on tap for Monday, September 6.
SCARLET AND GRAY- No eliminations were needed for the Scarlet and Gary Stakes, so posts will be drawn Wednesday (Media Advisory: A release will be issued following the Scarlet and Gray post draw). Among the S&G entrants who prepped Saturday at Northfield was three-time champ and track record holder Dunkster. Coming off a layoff of three months, he cruised to a 1:59.2 win in an overnight event… That Fly’n Angel, BT Attack and Shell I Attack also raced Saturday night at Northfield, while Diamond Hunter, Wildfire Osborne and Osborne’s Gypsy all prepped via the qualifier route on Thursday. All three were victorious, with trotter Diamond Hunter scoring a 1:59.3 win. The two Jerry Orborne-owned mares won their qualifiers in gate-to-wire style, with Wildfire posting a 1:56.3 win, while Gypsy scored in a blistering 1:54.3.
BACK TO THE TRACK IN REVIEW- The August 14 nationwide Back To The Track program was a success at Northfield, with a large crowd enjoying an evening at the races despite severe late-afternoon thunderstorms. The rain cleared and fans got a chance to meet drivers Dan Charlino, Aaron Merriman and Kurt Sugg, who signed autographs. There were numerous prize drawings, including an all-expenses paid trip to the Little Brown Jug. All in attendance received free parking, admissions and programs. Northfield hosted the second leg of the National Pick 4, which yielded a $1,846.60 payoff and which your humble scribe gave out publicly in the free Pick 4 program insert and on the Smokin’ With the Giss blog, http://northfieldpark.blogspot.com/. The $48 play highlighted $33,00 winner Sky Tantrum at the Meadowlands in the first leg. Yonkers Raceway and Balmoral Park also hosted National Pick 4 races.
THIS JUST IN- The Jay Auto Group has signed on as title sponsor for this year’s $150,000 (est.) Cleveland Classic for three-year-old colt pacers, the track’s richest race of the year. The Classic is set for Saturday, December 4… Tony Hall will be hanging his tack at Northfield for the foreseeable future, although right now he is doing double duty at The Meadows, near Pittsburgh, in the afternoon and at the Route 8 oval at night. In just two weeks, Hall has moved into 14th place in the local driver standings and his .395 Universal Driver Rating System “batting average” is just behind leading pilot Dan Charlino and injured Aaron Merriman… Muscle Sprouts and Unrecognized Saint won Saturday’s features. Muscle Sprouts continues his remarkable comeback after missing two years of racing for Bob Schlabach, while Unrecognized Saint overcame being assigned the outside post eight to defeat several Scarlet and Gray hopefuls
KEEPING PACE with Keith Gisser
August 2, 2010
$51K GUARANTEED BACK TO THE TRACK- Northfield Park is heavily involved in the nationwide Back To The Track promotion (http://backtothetrack.ustrotting.com/), sponsored by the U.S. Trotting Association (www.ustrotting.com) on August 14. The Route Eight oval is one of four tracks hosting a $50,000 guaranteed Pick 4 wager that will be available throughout North America. Northfield hosts the second race of the bet, at about 10 PM Eastern, ten minutes after it kicks off at The Meadowlands and ten minutes before Yonkers Raceway’s race. The fourth and final race, from Balmoral Park, is set for 10:30 PM Eastern. The wager features a minimal 15% takeout, meaning an extra 40% will be returned on winning wagers… Locally, the track hosts a free-to-enter $1,000 handicapping contest on Northfield races three through ten. The entrant with the most winners wins $500, with $300 to second place, $150 to third and $50 for fourth. Tiebreaker is the combined mutuel price of a contestant’s winning entries.
AND IT’S ALL FREE- Back To The Track at Northfield also features free parking, admission and live racing programs, a savings of $5.00 per person, and free-to-enter prize drawings, including a chance to ride in the starting car, a VIP trip to the Little Brown Jug, and more… There will be driver/trainer meet-and-greets with free autographs and draft beer and soda specials in a special commemorative cups… Lady Luck’s restaurant is open on August 14, with full menu service or an all-you-can-eat buffet (reservations@northfieldpark.com), and the Trackside barbecue is also offering great taste treats for Back To The Track (and every weekend)… Complete details, as always, at www.northfieldpark.com.
TOP PERFORMANCES ARE ON-TRACK- Northfield hosted the Ohio Sires Stakes for three-year-old colts and geldings Friday, and there was a number of impressive efforts over the Flying Turns. Trotter Sing Jesse Sing, who won the $375,000 Goodtimes Final at Mohawk in June, cruised to an easy victory in line to Dan Charlino. He is trained by Ronnie Burke for Burke Racing, Slaughter Racing, Weaver Bruscemi and Frank Baldachino… Trotter Wolf Creek Ted won his fourth straight race when Dan Noble steered him to a 57.3 back half to win his Sires event for trainer Jim Arledge, Jr., and owner Dustin Arledge… Among regular Northfield campaigners, three mares, Shelby’s Muneymaker, Fantastic Fran and Silver’s Luck, along with gelding Mainline Hall, share the local lead with twelve wins over the track this season… That’s tied for fifth nationally… Season’s Leaders (fastest horses in their age/gender category) at Northfield include Battle of Lake Erie champ Hypnotic Blue Chip (pacing stallion, 4,1:49.4), Jesse’s Messenger (trotting filly, 3, 1:56.3), and Rub Thing (pacing filly, 3, 1:53.3).
KEEPING PACE with Keith Gisser
July 19, 2010
WE HAVE A NEW LEADER- Philadelphia native Dan Charlino, who now calls Canonsburg, Pennsylvania, a stone’s throw from The Meadows, home, surpassed Aaron Merriman last week to take the Northfield driving lead. He has 228 wins, with the injured Merriman stuck on 221 locally. Charlino has been particularly hot on Fridays, posting 15 wins the last two Fridays, including a nine-win night July 2. He has won 1,839 races in his career and should crack the 2,000 win barrier late this year… And, in the national driver standings, George Napolitano Jr., has passed Merriman for the overall lead in driver wins. He has 367 victories, while Merriman has 355. It took the rest of the pack over a month to catch Merriman, who had dominated the sport in the first half of the year. He was injured in a racing accident at The Meadows on June 11.
NORTHFIELD GOES BACK TO THE TRACK- Northfield has signed on with dozens of other tracks for the Back To The Track promotion, sponsored by the U.S. Trotting Association, the weekend of August 14-15. The Route Eight oval will join Yonkers, The Meadowlands and Balmoral Park as the four host tracks for a nationwide Pick Four wager on August 14. That Saturday night features free parking, free admission, free programs and a free-to-enter handicapping contest worth at least $1,000 at Northfield. There will be beer and Pepsi specials with limited-edition souvenir cups, a Northfield driver meet-and-greet, and drawings for a ride in the starting gate. Back To The Track information is posted at http://backtothetrack.ustrotting.com and details of Northfield’s local part in the promotion will be available on the promotions page of our website, www.northfieldpark.com/page.aspx?PageID=/promotions/upcoming
WEEKEND UPDATE (WITHOUT SETH MEYERS)- William Cantrell’s Master Buckin Uhl ($11.60) was an impressive winner in Saturday’s $5,000 Open Trot at Northfield, scoring a 1:56.3 lifetime best win in line to Dan Charlino. Master Buckin Uhl ground out the victory with a long first-over move. Elliot Deaton and Muscle Sprouts were on the point through fractions of 28.1 and 57.2, but Charlino had the Fred Winstead-trainee out and rolling at the half, with 3-5 favorite Victory Is Coming, a three-year-old filly, following. A game Muscle Sprouts continued to lead until deep stretch, but Master Buckin Uhl got the best of him in the final strides. Master Buckin Uhl is a four-year-old Master Lavec gelding who has won nine of 24 starts this year, banking $19,234… The $6,000 Open Pace went to The Wiz Kids Stable’s Tarver Hanover ($3.40), a career $700,000 winner. Charlino was again in the bike on this one, who is trained by Sam Schillaci. He led from the opening call with fractions of 27, 55.3, 1:23.3 and 1:52.2, the third fastest mile of the year at Northfield. Chang Dynasty was a surprising second and Wow Power was third.
KEEPING PACE with Keith Gisser
July 6, 2010
I’VE BEEN HYPNOTIZED- In case you missed it, Frank Azur’s Hypnotic Blue Chip ($8.60) won Saturday’s $100,000 Battle of Lake Erie with a track-record equaling 1:49.4 effort. He defeated Won The West by five lengths, with favored Foiled Again, who set the fractions, finishing third. Foiled Again and Dave Palone battled Pilgrims Toner for the early lead and took the field to the quarter in 26 seconds. Pilgrims Toner backed off and Foiled Again hit the half in 54 seconds, but driver Jody Jamieson had Hypnotic Blue Chip underway. By the three-quarter pole, the pair were on even terms, and Hypnotic Blue Chip put the favorite away with a 27.4 final panel. Kevin McDermott trains Hypnotic Blue Chip, a four-year-old son of Art Major. In addition to the track record, the mile equals the fastest ever by a veteran pacer on a half-mile commercial racetrack and equals the fastest at night on a twice-around mile. A jubilant McDermott called Hypnotic Bloue Chip, “The best horse I have ever trained.”
DYLONG AND WINDING ROAD- The $100,000 Battle of Lake Erie was exctiing, but for long-time Northfield patron Diane Dylong, the following race, the George Verban Memorial, was the highlight of the evening. Dylong received a Mystery Voucher in the mail, and when she redeemed it, it gave her a spot as one of nine finalists to win $10,000 in cash. In a blind draw, Dylong selected the pacer Unknown Soldier to represent her (each finalist drew a horse in the 13th race). When the Life Sign gelding triumphed by 2¾ lengths over Polo Joe in 1:52.3, Dylong was $10,000 richer. Vice President of Marketing and Customer Realtions Bill Seese and Executive Vice President of Racing and Simulcasting Dave Bianconi made the check presentation to Dylong. The other finalists each won $100. (PHOTO AVAILABLE ON REQUEST).
NINE MEANS YES FOR CHARLINO- Dan Charlino moved closer to the local driving lead at Northfield Friday night, posting nine winning drives on the thirteen-race card. Charlino won the opener with Envy ($3.60) and did not drive in the 2nd race. He was back in the winners circle in the third race, piloting Jo-Ju-Jan ($10.40) to victory. He won the 6th with longshot My Sweet Lorelei ($36.00) and then won the last six races on the card, including the Pick Four, scoring with On The Money ($7.00) in the 8th; Peggy Spur ($7.40) in the 9th; Shelbys Muneymaker ($2.80) in the 10th, and Weekie Wachie ($4.80) in the 11th. The Pick Four, races 8-11, paid $153.80. He finished the night taking the late Daily Double ($6.40) with Game Portia ($3.80) and Sand Song ($4.20). Charlino drove in twelve races, finishing 2nd, 3rd and 8th in his non-winning efforts. Charlino, who had never won more than six races on a card before Friday, added two more wins on the Battle undercard. Charlino has won 204 races at Northfield, seventeen fewer than Aaron Merriman, who is idled by injuries suffered in a racing incident at The Meadows last month.
TUESDAY NIGHT IS ALIVE AND OTHER CALENDAR UPDATES- Live Tuesday night racing has returned to Northfield and continues through the end of the year with a 7 PM Eastern first-race post… Saturday evening, July 24, Northfield hosts the Summit County Fair Buckeye Super Stakes at 7 PM and the track will open at noon for simulcasting from top tracks including Saratoga, Monmouth Park, Calder, Woodbine and The Meadows.