After getting parked the mile last week, Ohio-bred Mission Accepted upended foe Winning Shadow on Sunday night (March 12) at MGM Northfield Park winning the $19,000 Open Trot in 1:54.
Just as he did last week, Big Bad Caviar left alertly, but driver Ronnie Wrenn Jr. didn’t allow him to set the intense fractions he did a week ago as Mission Accepted cleared the lead into the backstretch. Getting to the quarter in :27.2, Mission Accepted opened a 1-3/4-length lead into the far turn for the first time.
Coming to the half in :57, Winning Shadow was guided outside to take a shot at Mission Accepted. Into the backstretch, Winning Shadow continued to bear down on Mission Accepted but only got within three-quarters of a length of the lead at three-quarters in 1:25.
Coming through the stretch, Wrenn confidently drew off with Mission Accepted winning by two lengths. Winning Shadow dug in for second, with Icanflylikeanangel finishing third.
For the son of Manofmanymissions, who has earned more than $1.3 million, it was his 48th victory in 124 starts.
Mission Accepted is owned by Burke Racing Stable, Knox Services, David Wills and Weaver Bruscemi, and is trained by leading dash trainer Ron Burke.
In the $19,000 co-featured Open Pace, Speedy Dominic A proved he could hang with Open company, winning in 1:52.4.
Leaving from post four, Speedy Dominic A was hustled off the wings to clear inside speed around the first turn for driver Aaron Merriman. Getting to the quarter in :27.2, the early leader had to deal with pressure from Odds On Osiris, who worked hard to get to the lead around the second turn for Wrenn.
Wrenn worked a second-quarter breather of :29, with no one pressuring the lead, but he was urging Odds On Osiris, asking him to pick up the pace going into the clubhouse turn.
Moving into the backstretch, Hunter Myers sent Elver Hanover to the outside to take a crack at the favourite, and he started to edge by at three-quarters in 1:24.3. Turning for home, Odds On Osiris battled back at the inside with a host of pursuers coming.
Through the stretch, Speed Dominic A used the passing lane to work past Odds On Osiris, scoring a narrow victory by three-quarters of a length. Odds On Osiris managed to hold on for second, while Fly Charley Fly closed to be third.
Owned by Kapildeo Singh, Earl Hill Jr., and the VIP Internet Stable, Speedy Dominic A has earned $241,972, with 22 victories in 124 starts.
Live racing resumes on Tuesday evening (March 14) at 6 p.m. (EDT). MGM Northfield Park currently races on Saturday, Sunday, Tuesday, and Wednesday.
(Northfield Park)