Former Ohio Sires Stakes champions Bythemissal and Its Academic will headline the Myron Charna President's Pace and Tom Aldrich President's Trot, respectively, on a stacked undercard leading up to the $300,000 Carl Milstein Memorial on Saturday (Aug. 12) evening at MGM Northfield Park.
Battling sickness through much of the mid-part of the year, Bythemissal (pictured above) enters Saturday's $100,000 Myron Charna President's Pace following a dominating 1:47.1 mile last weekend in the Sam McKee Memorial at The Meadowlands.
The 2022 Ohio Horse of the Year won the $300,000 Carl Milstein Memorial at three in a world record performance and has shown no signs of slowing down for owners Burke Racing Stable, Eric Good, Rich Lombardo Racing LLC and Weaver Bruscemi.
"He is one of the fastest horses I have ever had," said the sport's leading trainer, Ron Burke, who celebrated his 14,000th career training win when Bythemissal took the McKee Memorial.
Bred in Allentown, New Jersey by Stephen Dey III, Bythemissal was purchased by the ownership group in April of his three-year-old season. He is the most accomplished son of Dam Dismissal, who did most of her winning on the east coast. Burke, who has won just about everything there is to win in the sport of harness racing, will be looking for his third Myron Charna President's Pace.
Taking on Bythemissal are Feelin Western, Odds On Shaggy, Odds On Capitalism, Fearful Intent, Shane Falco, Risenshine Seaside, Sectionline Bigry and One Last Laugh.
Its Academic has yet to miss the board in his six-year-old season and, like Bythemissal, shows no signs of slowing down anytime soon.
A runner-up in last year's $100,000 Tom Aldrich President's Trot, Its Academic enters Saturday on a four-race win streak, including victories in the Crawford Farms, Spirit of Massachusetts and John Cashman Memorial.
"He just wants to win," said Burke. "He is as gutsy as they come and has a lot of heart."
Owned by Brad Grant, the son of Uncle Peter has won multiple stakes throughout his storied career. With a lifetime mark of 1:50.1, he has earned $1.81 million with 28 victories in 75 starts.
"They are the best two Ohio-bred horses ever," said Burke.
Its Academic will take on Joggingtothebank, Pappardelle, Refined, Caviar Gold, The Mighty Hill, Smoking Jet, Longshot and Guido Di.
Burke won the $100,000 Tom Aldrich President's Trot in 2022 with Smoking Jet.
The great undercard is just one of many things that highlight Saturday's blockbuster program. Saturday will feature Match Game prize drawings beginning at 5 p.m., with a ball toss game for patrons from 8 p.m. to 9 p.m.
The card also features three great wagers: a $30,000 estimated All-Stakes Pick-4 beginning in Race 8, a $10,000 late Pick-4 beginning in Race 12 and a $10,000 Super High Five in Race 13. All three wagers feature a low 14 per cent takeout.
Lady Luck's Dining Room will also be open with a dinner special available for $32. Summerfest Grille and Crooked Kettle Popcorn will also be on sight for guests from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. To make reservations on Saturday, call 330-467-4101.
Post time on Saturday night is 6 p.m.
(With files from Northfield Park)