An earner of more than $110,000 in 2023, Obertohas kicked off the new year in a big way, as he continued his winning ways on Sunday, Jan. 21 in the $24,000 co-featured Open Handicap Trot at MGM Northfield Park.
When the starter said "go," the trio of Dont Take My Keys (Ryan Stahl), Oberto (Billy Davis Jr.) and Tequila Talkin (Ronnie Wrenn Jr.) all left in tandem from their outside posts. Dont Take My Keys worked past rivlas midway through the opening turn, but Oberto, who couldn't find a seat along the pylons, drove up on the outside and cleared at the quarter in :29.2.
Davis was able to work out a second-quarter breather, with the field remaining in straight alignment at the half in a leisurely :58.3. Entering the backstretch, Warrawee Yang (Chris Lems) tried to make a bid from the back of the pack but stalled before three-quarters in 1:27.2.
Through the stretch, Oberto drew off easily to win by 1-3/4 lengths in 1:56. Dont Take My Keys finished second and Warrawee Yang was third.
Owned by Paul O'Neil, the eight-year-old Yankee Glide gelding is now two-for-three to start his 2024 season. He now has 30 career victories with $391,944 in earnings.
Night Shadow rebounded to win the $24,000 co-featured Open Handicap Pace on Sunday evening.
Night Shadow (Wrenn Jr.) fired quickly off the wings, but Tremendous Play (Hunter Myers) was put into play from the rail and promptly defended inside position, leaving Makin Some Noise (Kurt Sugg) three-deep into the backstretch. Night Shadow took back and tried to take a hole while the leaders duelled, but as Makin Some Noise worked to the lead, Night Shadow came back to the outside, taking over after a contentious opening quarter in :27.2.
Heading to the half in :56.1, Night Shadow had yet to see a rival, but the outer flow developed in the form of Cyclone Banner N (Lems) and Pocket Of Terror (Eric Tharps Jr.), who rode second-over cover.
At three-quarters in 1:24.4, Pocket Of Terror flipped off cover three-wide, advancing on the leaders, with Makin Some Noise bounding out of the pocket. Turning for home, Makin Some Noise and Night Shadow duelled, with the latter winning the battle by a half-length in 1:53.2. Tremendous Play rounded out the top three finish order.
Owned by the partnership of Burke Raicng Stable LLC and Weaver Bruscemi LLC, the five-year-old Shadow Play gelding, who has also won two of his first three starts this year, now has 15 career victories and $169,037 in earnings.
Northfield Park wraps mini-series action
The well-received conditioned mini-series wrapped up Sunday night at Northfield Park with a pair of finals for non-winners of $750 USD per start in 2023.
On the trotting side of things, driver Billy Davis Jr. took down his third series win with Black Hawk Down for trainer Marion Chupp. With his victory on Sunday, the six-year-old went over $109,000 in career earnings as he brushed to the top at the half and never looked back in 1:58.4. The pacing final was won by Tap Tap Tap, who was able to leave off the wings and land in the pocket. He had swept the first three legs in front-stepping fashion; this week, however, it was a perfect two-hole trip to victory, completing the series sweep for trainer Virginia Wilcox with Chris Lems between the wheels in 1:55.4.
The series finals had taken place throughout the last few racing programs at Northfield. It all started with dual events for the ladies on Friday, Jan. 12. Iwannarocknroll was a fresh face to the Scott Cox barn back in December and had failed to find the winner's circle in her first four starts. She broke through in the non-winners of $750 USD per start final to spring the 9-1 mild upset in 1:59.4 piloted by Lems. Later that night in the non-winners of $1,250 USD per start final, Rockin Requiem completed the series sweep with another dynamite front-stepping 1:57.1 score for trainer Steven Harris. She was driven to victory in all four legs by Elliott Deaton relishing her job on the lead each week.
It was the Davis Jr. show on Tuesday, Jan. 16 as he grabbed a pair of wins for non-winners of $2,000 USD per start. His pacing victory came aboard Up Helly AA for trainer Cory Kreiser as part of a training five-bagger. Up Helly AA recovered from a fourth-place finish in leg two to take down the third leg and the final on the engine both times. The very next race, the red-hot Davis Jr. was tired of being the bridesmaid with Pocket Of Terror A. After three straight runner-up performances, he was able to flip the script in the final on Master Yossi N besting him by a nose in a thrilling stretch drive in 1:54.2.
There was another pair of finals on the card Wednesday, Jan. 17 for non-winners of $1.250 USD per start. Cory Kreiser became the only trainer to double up as Fancy Expressions made it three straight flipping off cover to catch the favourite in deep stretch. Driven by Aaron Merriman for the first time, she kept her perfect season intact with the 1:57.4 score. Immediately after that, Hoosier Celebrity and Luke Ebersole worked out a perfect pocket trip and utilized the passing lane to victory. The seven-year-old made it back-to-back winning efforts for trainer Aaron Hamilton with the 8-1 victory in 1:56.2.
Live harness racing resumes on Tuesday, Jan. 23 with a first post of 6 p.m.
(With files from Northfield Park; Photo of Oberto winning last year at Northfield Park)