Smoking Jet etched himself into the MGM Northfield Park history books on Sunday (May 15) with a blistering 1:52.4 track record-tying performance.
The track record for five-year-old trotting geldings is also held by Joggingtothebank (Kurt Sugg, 2020) and Winning Shadow (Chris Lems, 2021).
A host of trotters left the gate, but Ronnie Wrenn Jr. was able to gain control of the lead with Smoking Jet through an opening quarter of :27.3. Wrenn was able to get a :29.1 breather, but the fractions proved too challenging for pocket-sitter Refi, who made a break at five-eighths.
Entering the backstretch, Wrenn let Smoking Jet out a notch and opened a five-length lead at three quarters in 1:24.3. He powered the Ron Burke trainee home to a :28.1 final quarter to win easily by seven lengths. MVP Luke was second, with Cumberland Gap third.
Owned by Burke Racing Stable, Weaver Bruscemi and Southern Ohio driver Chris Page, Smoking Jet has now amassed $141,952 in career earnings with 14 victories in 71 starts.
Sherman Guides GLADA Trot Winner
Inside, outside, on top, or from the rears, it doesn't make too much difference if the horse is the best in the race. Case in point: Oberto at Northfield Park on Sunday night.
With Don Sherman at the controls, Oberto started from post seven and was parked out all the way until he gained command at the top of the stretch and then went on to a five-length triumph in the $7,500 GLADA Trot.
When the wings of the mobile gate folded, a speed duel ensued between Dominus Hanover (Tim Miller) and Curlys Son (Marion Chupp), with the former gaining command after a :27.3 first quarter. But heading to the half, Larry Ferrari moved So Wishful out to challenge and he gained the front-end as he trotted by the half in :58. Although So Wishful got first call at the three-quarters in 1:27, the parked-out Oberto was then head-to-head with him. But when they rounded the final turn, Oberto showed his heels to the field and sped to a five-length victory in 1:56. Fultons Fury (Eddie Miller) rallied to finish second while So Wishful faded and finished third.
Paul O'Neil owns the winner, who is trained by Jessica Roegner. The victory was the seventh of the season for the altered son of Yankee Glide who returned a $2.80 win payoff. For Sherman, it was his 367th career driving victory.
Live racing continues at MGM Northfield Park on a four-day-a-week schedule, racing Saturday, Sunday, Tuesday and Wednesday, with the first post of 6 p.m. (EDT).
(Northfield Park and GLADA)