The nine-time leading dash champion Aaron Merriman made short work of his foes on Monday. Feb. 12, scoring eight victories at MGM Northfield Park.
Merriman, who wrapped up his seventh straight Northfield Park driving title in December, kicked off a night of winning aboard Randy Bendis-trained Archery Seelster ($11.40) to close the early double.
Speedy Dominic A ($8.40) overcame a top-of-the-stretch miscue to score impressively for trainer Braiden Rhoades. Rhoades and Merriman teamed up to win again a few races later as Vibrent Kally ($2.40) took no prisoners, making the lead shortly after the quarter, digging in to win by three-quarters of a length in 1:56.4.
In the co-featured $24,324 Open Handicap Trot, Merriman guided The Great Emotion ($4) to a 3-1/4-length victory for trainer Cassandra Lecourt. The four-year-old son of Lookslikeachpndale sat behind Fashion Chocolate before making a move at the half and cruising to an impressive victory in 1:55.4.
Merriman returned one race later, scoring with Art McIlmurray trainee Bobbie N Poppie ($10.80) getting yet another perfect trip, winning by a half-length in 1:59.4.
He wrapped up the night with three straight victories in the Late Pick-4 aboard Lake Charles ($3.20) for trainer Katie Remmerswaal, Zeus Is Rocking ($5) for Whitney Johnson and Tap Tap Tap ($3.40) for Virginia Wilcox.
The eight-win night brings Merriman's total to 45 wins on the year, leading Billy Davis Jr. (31) and Chris Lems (21).
Live harness racing resumes at Northfield on Tuesday at 6 p.m.
(With files from Northfield Park; Photo of The Great Emotion and Aaron Merriman winning on Feb. 12)