Team Northfield made their presence felt on Tuesday (April 11), taking a commanding lead heading into night two of the driver's challenge with Team Pompano held in partnership with the Ohio Harness Horsemen's Association.
Team Northfield got on the board quickly as heavily favoured Docdor Friskie (Ronnie Wrenn Jr.) went over $500,000 in career earnings en route to a commanding 4-1/2 length win in 1:52.4 in the first leg of the challenge. It was the 42nd victory lifetime for the son of Feelin Friskie, who is owned by Miller Racing Stable Inc. and trained by Sam Schillaci.
Team Pompano would even the score in the second leg, with David Miller scoring one of his three victories on the program with Reformed Renegade, who upset the field as the longest shot on the board, winning by four lengths in 1:56.3. The victory gave the Renae Loney trainee his eighth career victory and pushed his earnings to $111,666.
Miller continued to school the home team in the next race with a come-from-behind victory with Last Bet, who was able to collar Our Zak Whitby A (Wrenn) through the stretch to win by three-quarters of a length in 1:51.2. The son of Bettors Delight has earned $123,884 throughout his career. It was the first victory in the barn of owner/trainer Stacey Currie, who claimed the gelding last week.
Billy Davis Jr. looked like he was going to score a victory with Long Live The King, but the son of Full Count had other ideas, breaking 50 yards from the wire and, while he crossed the line first, was disqualified to second. Tulsa Bell (Wrenn) bided her time throughout the mile and got close enough to the lead late to be elevated to victory, with her winning time clocked in 1:54.4. It was the 11th victory lifetime for the daughter of Dontyouforgetit. She is owned by the Brookside Stables and trained by Erik Jaeck Jr.
Wrenn Jr. returned to the winner's circle once more in race seven, as he dug in with Ponda Hawk to win in 1:53.1 over Champagonabeach (Aaron Merriman), who was closing late after getting a perfect trip. Trained by Bill Rhoades and owned by Kyle Husted, Viva Las Vegas Racing, Chris Norder and John Schwarz Jr., the gelding by Luck Be Withyou has earned $76,071.
Davis Jr. got a chance to redeem himself with three races to go as he took Fingals Wave to the winner's circle in gate-to-wire fashion, winning by 2-1/2 lengths in 1:54.1. Owned by Paul O'Neil and trained by Jessica Roegner, the son of Kadabra picked up his 21st career victory and now has $275,554 in the bank.
John MacDonald got on the board with a victory with one race to go as Juju Hanover worked out a first-over bid for the lead, getting to the front and drawing off to win by 2-1/2 lengths in 1:53.4. Owned by trainer Marion Chupp, the son of Artspeak has now earned three wins and $52,606 in his career.
Spoiled Rockn gave Davis Jr. another victory in the final leg of the Northfield/Pompano Driver's Challenge. On a night where the front was red hot, Davis put Spoiled Rockn on the lead and never looked back, winning by 2-3/4 lengths in 1:53. Owned by Kenneth Edds and trained by Deb Procyshyn, the son of Pet Rock now has 17 victories with $132,096 in earnings.
When the smoke cleared following the eight-race challenge, Team Northfield came away with the lead earning 139 points, while Team Pompano has some ground to make up, with 71.
Night two of the Northfield/Pompano Driver's Challenge takes place on Wednesday (April 11), with a first post of 6 p.m.
(With files from Northfield Park)