Purchased privately following a runner-up performance in the Cane Pace at The Meadowlands, Seven Colors showed his new connections just how good he was with a jaw-dropping world-record victory in the $300,000 Carl Milstein Memorial at MGM Northfield Park on Saturday (Aug. 12).
Both Buzzsaw Russ (John De Long) and Redwood Hanover (James MacDonald) left alertly, but Seven Colors (Dexter Dunn) was put into play early as well into the first turn. Dunn played a little bit of hardball as he stretched out Buzzsaw Russ, but the son of Rockin Image worked past Seven Colors as the field entered the backstretch.
“He just couldn’t get out of the gate quick enough,” said Dunn. “We got away third; we didn’t want to be unlucky with him with such a great run last week.”
MacDonald, who couldn’t find a hole with Redwood Hanover, had to work hard to make the front, putting up a :25.3 first quarter. MacDonald then tried to get a bit of a breather, but Dunn would have none of it as he moved Seven Colors to the outside with Tip Top Cat (Yannick Gingras) on his back.
Getting to the half in a blistering :53.4, Seven Colors began to apply pressure to the Redwood Hanover as they entered the clubhouse turn for the final time. Redwood Hanover worked hard trying to fight off his challengers, leading by three-quarters in 1:21 up by three-quarters of a length.
“Brian [Brown] did such a good job with this horse; he had him prepped so well,” said winning trainer Andrew Harris. “I was pretty confident going to the three-quarter pole; if the horse is taxed on the front end, I felt like we could take advantage of that.”
Dunn pulled the plugs on Seven Colors midway into the far turn, and the son of Stay Hungry took off quickly taking the lead from Redwood Hanover with an eighth of a mile to pace. Seven Colors drew off down the stretch to win by a comfortable two lengths in a track and world nrecord 1:48.1. Tip Top Cat closed to be second, with Buzzsaw Russ and Redwood Hanover completing the superfecta.
“I just rode up quietly. And then, coming towards the end of the backstretch, he had plenty of go. When James [MacDonald] started to struggle a little bit, I asked him for more, and he kicked on great,” said Dunn.
Owned by William Pollock, Bruce Areman and trainer Andrew Harris, the talented colt has now earned $349,398 with six victories in 17 starts.
“I gotta thank Bill Pollock and Bruce Arman for taking this ride with me; it’s working out really nice for us. We have some nice horses,” said Harris.
For Dunn, it was his second victory in the 10-year history of the Carl Milstein Memorial. He also won the 2019 edition with Bettors Wish.
On the undercard, Its Academic (David Miller) kicked things off in the $100,000 President’s Trot with a mighty gate-to-wire victory. Miller defended pylon position well into the first turn, leaving alertly with the son of Uncle Peter, but Refined (Tyler Smith) and Caviar Gold (Aaron Merriman) both left to his outside.
Into the backstretch the first time, it looked like Caviar Gold would be parked to the opening quarter, but when Pappardelle (Ronnie Wrenn Jr.) made a break, it allowed him to save ground in third. With the field in straight alignment, Its Academic reached the opening quarter in :27.1. Miller worked out a :29.3 breather in the second panel, with the outflow from The Mighty Hill (Dexter Dunn) flushed out by Smoking Jet (Chris Page) breathing down his neck. A margin of 1-3/4 lengths was as close as anyone would get to Its Academic, who cruised by three-quarters in 1:24.3.
Midway around the far turn, The Mighty Hill jumped off stride, leaving Its Academic and Refined all alone on the lead. While Refined tried to close on the champion, Its Academic made it five in a row setting a new track record of 1:51.4. Caviar Gold dug in to be third, while Joggingtothebank (Brett Miller) rallied to be fourth.
“He’s been on top of his game the last couple of months,” said Miller. “He’s a really nice horse to get along with; he does whatever I ask him to do.”
Owned by Brad Grant, the six-year-old stallion earned the 29th victory of his career and pushed his earnings to $1,863,434
World champion Bythemissal (Yannick Gingras) overcame post eight to win the $100,000 Myron Charna President’s Pace, missing a track record by one-fifth of a second.
Odds On Shaggy (Smith), Fearful Intent (Merriman) and Risenshine Seaside (Wrenn Jr.) all left alertly to Bythemissal’s inside. Still, Gingras was patient with the gelding, settling into fourth around the initial turn. While Odds On Shaggy made the front into the backstretch, he had to brace for an immediate challenge from Risenshine Seaside was able to clear but set a blistering :25.4 pace.
Gingras would wait no longer by the stands for the first time, guiding the son of 2017 Carl Milstein Memorial winner Downbytheseaside to the outside. Leader Risenshine Seaside had nothing for the big horse and he cruised by eclipsing the half in :53.3.
“He got a little keyed up into the second turn, so I made a move instead of fighting with him,” said Gingras.
With three-eighths of a mile to pace, Gingras asked Bythemissal for a little bit more and he responded opening up to a 2-1/2-length lead heading to three-quarters in 1:21. Turning for home, it turned into a race against time, with the champion drawing off to win by four lengths in 1:48.2.
“He’s got plenty of speed. We weren’t trying to go after any records tonight,” said Gingras.
It was the second victory in a row for the champion pacer, who is owned by Burke Racing Stable, Eric Good, Rich Lombardo Racing and Weaver Bruscemi. His career earnings climbed to $1,377,209.
On an already stacked undercard, Wild Wild Western and Oberto put together a solid performance in their respective $21,000 Open events on Saturday night.
In the Open Handicap Pace, Wild Wild Western (Mike Wilder) was put into play early under heavy urging into the first turn. Camouflage Money (Chris Lems) and Dancin Dragon (David Miller) were leaving to his outside, both finding holes into the backstretch for the first time. The field was in straight alignment behind Wild Wild Western through a quick opening quarter of :26.1. The Ideal Dancer A (Aaron Merriman) was sent to the outside and was able to flush out Speedy Dominic A (Dexter Dunn) and Dancin Dragon approaching the half in :55. Getting to three-quarters in 1:22.3, Dancin Dragon got within 1-1/4 lengths of Wild Wild Western but stalled around the final turn. Off the turn, Camouflage Money took a shot at Wild Wild Western but just missed, with Wild Wild Western winning by a length in 1:50.1.
Owned by Jacobs Creek Racing, Andrew Altobelli and John Deters, the son of Western Ideal is trained by Norm Parker. He pushed his career earnings to $636,658.
In the $20,000 Open Trot, Oberto stormed home from out of the clouds to win by three-quarters of a length for trainer Jessica Roegner.
Fashion Chocolate (Chris Page) and Twentyfour K Magic (David Miller) both left alertly but Fashion Chocolate inherited an uncontested lead with Twenty Four K Magic breaking through the turn. Getting to the quarter in :27.1, Fashion Chocolate had to deal with pressure from Eye Ofa Tiger As (Billy Davis Jr.) into the far turn for the first time. Eye Ofa Tiger As momentarily took the lead past the half in :55.3. Into the clubhouse turn for the final time, Fashion Chocolate battled back gamely to take over the top spot. The pair duelled to three-quarters in 1:24.2, with Rose Run Xtra (Ronnie Wrenn Jr.) making a big three-wide sweeping move. It was wide open turning for home with Fashion Chocolate holding the lead while Rose Run Xtra kept coming, but it was Oberto (Kurt Sugg) who found his best stride late, working his way past the leaders to win in 1:54.2.
The seven-year-old son by Yankee Glide is owned by Paul O’ Neil and now has $292,682 in the bank.
A replay of the races is available below.
Live racing resumes on Sunday (Aug. 13) evening at 6 p.m. The track will cease live racing following Sunday’s program for a track regrade project that is expected to last two weeks. Racing is scheduled to resume on Saturday, Aug. 26.
(With files from Northfield Park)