KEEPING PACE With Keith Gisser July 14, 2008

KENO KEYNOTES- Keno debuts at Northfield Park on August 4. While the primary Keno area will be in the Trackside Lounge, winning numbers will be broadcast throughout the facility. Games run every four minutes and patrons can wager between $1 and $20, selecting up to ten of eighty numbers. Twenty winning numbers are randomly generated in the Keno game and patrons win based on the number of winning numbers their selection matches. Payouts, based on the amount bet and numbers matched, range from $2 ($1 for 1 number that has a match) to $2 million ($20 wager for 10 numbers with all 10 matching). The game will be available from about 11 AM until about 1:45 AM nightly.

DATE UPDATE- Live Wednesday racing resumes at Northfield on July 23. With next week’s return to a four-night live racing schedule, first race post times each night will be 7 PM. The track will return to late-afternoon and evening Wednesday simulcasting, as well. On Saturday, July 26, Northfield hosts the $125,000 Summit County Fair Stakes and will open early for simulcasting. The track offers wagering on 26 thoroughbred and 15 harness tracks that day with racing starting at 12:25 PM and continuing until about 1 AM. In case you need to mark you calendars, live Tuesday racing returns on Election Day, November 4, although there is a Tuesday preview on August 5, when the track hosts the Cuyahoga County Fair Stakes on a special Tuesday night card.

STEIN CASHES IN- It’s not surprising that the guy who invented the Blackjack sulky would excel at card games. Former Northfield trainer Craig Stein, who won several UTRS percentage training titles locally, has made his name on the professional poker circuit, and over the weekend finished 39th in the World Series of Poker in Las Vegas, cashing for $154,400. Stein, who considered selling his seat in the final, told an interviewer that, “I never really wanted to play against a lot of people. I have always played against smaller fields, but a friend of mine persuaded me to play the main event.” He qualified for the World Series of Poker Main Event in a $10,000 qualifier at Mountaineer Park. Stein had his family and several Northfield regulars in Vegas cheering him on.

 

CATCHING UP- The Little Brown Jug Future wager debuts next week at Northfield and other locations across the country. Wagering is available Thursday through Sunday, during regular wagering hours. Additional future pools will be available in August and the week before the Jug itself... Phil Carnabuci has been named Assistant Director of Promotions, assisting Bill Seese with advertising and promotions. Carnabuci, a graphic designer, will take primary responsibility for implementing artwork for in-house, external and northfieldpark.com ads. An energetic team player, he is a graduate of Cuyahoga Community College… Aaron Merriman is closing in on his 3,000th career win, with 2,994 after winning both of Saturday’s features… Todd Jones posted a six-bagger at Northfield Friday and came back with three more wins Saturday.

For more information on items in Keeping Pace, contact Keith Gisser at 330-467-4101, ext. 215, or by e-mail at info@northfieldpark.com 

KEEPING PACE With Keith Gisser June 30, 2008

SATURDAY IN THE PARK- Newly relocated to Northfield from California, by way of Edmonton, Alberta, Scott Cisco made his first drive over the Route Eight oval a winning one, steering Cladstownimpression ($3.20) gate-to-wire in a $3,000 claimer Saturday for trainer Dean Santantonio and Nevada owners Sling & A Stone Stable… Don Shaffer and Charles Ferrette's Lucca's Revenge ($5.20) captured his 9th win in 21 starts this year in the $7,500 Winners Over Trot. The Corleone gelding cruised gate-to-wire in 1:59, defeating This Sands Hot and Blastaway Sahbra. Trainer Kevin Ehrhardt called on Wyatt Irvine to drive the winner of nearly $150,000 in his career…Frank Scarl's Rella's Trick ($40.60) won the $7,500 top pace, in line to Ryan Angus. The six-year-old powered by early leader Caviarandsoftmusic  in the stretch and then held off the onrushing Lite Me Up in the 1:56.4 mile. The win was one of three on the card for Angus…In a rarity, full brothers raced against each other in the 14th race, and although Preslash and Lasha's Last were first and second at the top of the stretch, they were unable to sustain that pace, eventually finishing fourth and third. The two are by Mr. Preston, from the Laag mare Laasha. Preslash is eight, while Lasha's Last is seven…Three-year-old Roxie's Big Guy ($2.80) posted the fastest mile of the evening in the nightcap with a 1:53.4, gate-to-wire win for Ray Miller's Ohio Minerals, trainer Wes Hershberger and driver J.D. Wengerd. That trio also scored with Coal Black Beauty ($7.00) in the 11th race.

WISHING YOU WERE HERE- Live July racing kicks offs with a special Thursday race card on July 3. It’s the first of two Patron Independence Days at Northfield. July 3 and July 4, patrons receive free admission, parking and television carrels, and fifty-cent live racing (past performance) programs. Thursday’s first race post is 7 PM, featuring two-year-old colts and geldings in their debut Ohio Sires Stakes performance. Four $20,000 paces and three $20,000 trots are set for the 14-race card… Monday first race post time reverts to 7:00 PM on July 7 and continues at that traditional time until further notice… Live Wednesday racing returns on July 23… Northfield hosts the Summit County Fair Stakes on Saturday, July 26, and then features the Cuyahoga County Fair Stakes in a special Tuesday, August 5 card. By law in Ohio, fair stakes must be contested within the appropriate county, and since Northfield is in the unique position of being located in two counties (the final turn and northern end of the grandstand and parking lot are in Cuyahoga County, with the rest of the facility in Summit, it can host both sets of stakes.

HOT STREETS- Dennis Mitchell of Maple Heights was not yelling for Mr. Wilson while watching Bacon Hill Bandit win the 12th race on Northfield’s Cleveland Classic card, June 21. Mitchell, 79, won a brand new Pontiac Solstice that night. His name was drawn as one of nine finalists, selected as the culmination of a month-long promotion. Each finalist selected a 12th race starter at random and then waited for the results. Mitchell had Bacon Hill Bandit and he drove off in the car. The eight other finalists each won $100 betting vouchers. The promotion was made possible by the Jay Automotive Group, which, like Northfield, was founded in 1957… On Scarlet and Gray Night, August 30, one patron may win a 2008 GMC Sierra Pick-up, valued at nearly $29,000. Details will follow.

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Northfield, OH- Ed Mullinax’s Upfront Hannahsboy ($2.40) dominated the first division of the Cleveland Classic for three-year-old pacing colts at Northfield Park Saturday, going gate-to-wire in 1:52.4 over a good track, slowed by a torrential evening downpour. Lookout Hanover was second and Stonebridge Magnum finished third. Northfield’s leading driver, Aaron Merriman drove the Jim Arledge-trainee to his third victory in five seasonal starts, as he pushed his career earnings over $215,000. Upfront Hannahsboy was 5 ¼  lengths ahead at the wire.

Blueridge Western Takes Second $88,760 Cleveland Classic Division

Favored Blueridge Western ($2.80) won the second division of the Cleveland Classic for three-year-old pacing colts at Northfield Park Saturday, leading every step of the mile to post a 2 ½ length, 1:53 win. Dave Palone drove the winner for trainer Mickey Burke and owner George Leon. Leon also won the 2006 Classic with True North Hanover, and for trainer Burke, it made three wins in three years, as he took a division of the race last year with Won The West. Western Outfitter was second and Dragoon K finished third.

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Upfront Hannahsboy, Blueridge Western Headline Cleveland Classic at Northfield

14 Enter Three-year-old Pace, Forcing Two $88,760 Divisions

Northfield, OH- Blueridge Western and locally owned Upfront Hannahsboy have been named 2-1 morning line favorites in their respective divisions of Saturday’s Cleveland Classic at Northfield Park. The three-year-old pace is the track’s richest race of the year, with 14 entrants seeking a total purse of $177,520.

The first division, slated as the 10th race, is headed by Ed Mullinax’s Upfront Hannahsboy, fresh off a 1:49.2 stakes record win in the $98,000 North America Cup Consolation June 14.  The son of Mullinax’s Dragon Again has drawn the favorable inside post one, but will be challenged by Daley Deposit Only, who is the 7-2 second choice from post two. Richard Lombardo of Solon shares ownership of Daley Deposit Only, who streaked to a fast 1:51.4 win in his New Jersey Classic elimination early in May.

The second split, the night’s 13th race,  features Blueridge Western. The richest horse in the field, with earnings over $371,000, he won the $215,000 Berry’s Creek Final at The Meadowlands earlier this year in 1:50.1. He will be challenged by Goddess’s Justin, whose full brother, Michael’s Western, won a division of the race in 2002, and by Northfield regular Western Outfitter, who rides a three-race win streak for his Westlake owner, Matthew Bencic.

The 16-race card features a special 6:45 PM first post time, with the Cleveland Classic heats scheduled for approximately 9:45 and 10:45 PM. Supported by Ohio Sires Stakes for three-year-old filly pacers and trotters, total purses for the night are $369,620, the highest of the year at the Route Eight harness track.

Cleveland Classic 1st $88,760 Division—Race 10- Post Time 9:45 PM Eastern

Post	Horse	Driver	Trainer	Owner	Odds
1	Upfront Hannahsboy	Aaron Merriman	Jim Arledge, Jr.	Ed Mullinax	2-1
2	Daley Deposit Only	Dan Daley	Dan Daley	Ann-mari & Jared Daley, Richard Lombardo & Robert Pergament	7-2
3	Lookout Hanover	Mike Wilder	Dan Altmeyer	D. Altmeyer, Richard Keeson, Jack Piatt II, Jacob Ramsburg	6-1
4	Oaks Hanover	Dave Palone	Mickey Burke	George Leon	4-1
5	Stonebridge Magnum	TBA	Bob McIntosh	Angie Stiller, R. McIntosh Stable, Dan Belliveau	12-1
6	Jo Pas Wild Card	Tom Jackson	Tom Jackson	Emposimato Stables	8-1
7	Andy Roo	Anthony Napolitano	Erv Miller	Red Barn Stable	10-1

 

Cleveland Classic 2nd $88,760 Division—Race 13- Post Time 10:50 PM Eastern

Post	Horse	Driver	Trainer	Owner	Odds
1	Papa Hemingway	TBA	Brian Brown	Gary Cook and Brian Brown	10-1
2	Western Outfitter	Aaron Merriman	Jodi Schillaci	Matthew “Ken” Bencic	8-1
3	Dragoon K	Tony Hall	Rich Gillock	Robert J. Key	6-1
4	Blueridge Western	Dave Palone	Mickey Burke	George Leon	2-1
5	Goddess’s Justin	Dick Stillings	Jim Arledge, Jr.	Jacob Ramsburg and DM Stables	5-2
6	Shoot First	Mike Wilder	Dan Altmeyer	D. Altmeyer, R. Keeson, J. Piatt II	12-1
7	Handsome Prince	Kenny Kidd	Kenny Kidd	Buckeye Racing, LLC	15-1

For more information, contact Keith Gisser at 330-467-4101, ext. 215, or e-mail: info@northfieldpark.com

KEEPING PACE With Keith Gisser June 9, 2008

TRACKSIDE WINNERS- Two dozen patrons picked up special prizes as Northfield celebrated the Grand Opening of its Trackside Lounge Friday. Long-time patron Ray Albert of Cleveland garnered a $100 Fish Furniture gift certicate to start the evening, and Patrick Shetler of Boradview Heights took home the night’s last prize, a flat screen television set. Ralph Cohrs of Brooklyn (Ohio, not New York), won four loge tickets to an upcoming Cleveland Indians game, and several patrons were awarded Trackside Lounge prize packages, which include t-shirts and caps. That snazzy logo merchandise is available for sale at Trackside or in the track’s gift shop.

 CLASSIC UPDATE- Ken Bencic’s Western Outfitter cruised to victory on Northfield’s special Tuesday card, establishing his credentials to the June 21 Cleveland Classic. The son of Western Hanover posted a 1:57 win on a sloppy track against older horses… A trio of Classic eligibles competed in eliminations for the $1,000,000 North America Cup in Toronto, and Sand Shooter, the Jim Arledge, Jr.-trainee owned by Bill Sanders and Jerry Silva, finished third in his heat and advanced to the final, to be contested Saturday at Mohawk. Up Front Hannahsboy, owned by Ed Mullinax and also trained by Arledge, was fourth in his heat and will be an also-eligible after losing a lottery among the three fourth-place finishers to get into the final. He will likely compete in the North America Cup consolation on Saturday. Daley Deposit Only was a non-factor in his division, finishing 7th. The possibility of supplemental entries grows stronger, with declarations due Wednesday, June 18 and no clear-cut favorite emerging. You can get all the updates by logging on to our special Classic website, www.northfieldpark.com/cleveland_classic/index.aspx.

 FEED ME!- Northfield’s barbecue stand is dishing up the sauce, with quarter-slab and half-slab rib dinners, as well as a variety of sandwiches, French fries and cold beverages every live race night. Humble scribe has yet to sample the ribs, but several patrons have told me they are the best in years. Meanwhile, up in the clubhouse, Maitre D’ Roseanne Ward has located a great new wine, Horseplay Red. A blend of cabernet, syrah and merlot grapes, this baby is perfect with anything that the clubhouse restaurant offers…not too big, but with enough fruit to complement any entrée. This month’s specials include a $12.95 Breaded Ocean Perch dinner on Fridays, and on Saturdays, an unbelievable Philly Cheesesteak Panini with fries ($10.95) that is so good that humble scribe skipped the buffet while celebrating his Belmont win. Weekends also feature a great summer salad, a combination of greens and fresh fruit that is just right on a hot day. You can check out all of this month’s specials and our current clubhouse restaurant menu by logging on to www.northfieldpark.com/page.aspx?PageID=/dining/fine_dining.

 THIS N THAT- Monday first-race post time for the rest of June is 6:45 PM Eastern… With five winners Saturday, Aaron Merriman has lengthened his lead in the local drivers’ race. Approaching 3,000 career wins, A-rod has 192 Northfield tallies this year, eight better than Ryan Stahl and 16 more than Matt Kakaley, who has been driving in Buffalo on Saturdays… In case you missed it, eighty-two-year old Eldon Spearman of Mt. Vernon, Ohio, piloted his three-year-old Yankee Paco trotter Boy Meets Grill to victory in Monday's third race at Northfield, becoming the oldest driver to win a race in Northfield history. 47-year-old Bob Eidens drove Fortune King, while 64-year-old Ben Miller completed the trifecta with Wesley's Fortune. The three trainer-drivers combined age is 193 years, a track trifecta record. The previous mark was 168 years, set in 2005, when Don McKirgan, Keith Kash and Charlie Wyers brought home a trifecta.

For more information on items in Keeping Pace, contact Keith Gisser at 330-467-4101, ext. 215, or by e-mail at info@northfieldpark.com 

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KEEPING PACE With Keith Gisser June 2, 2008

 

TRACKSIDE LIVE- This Friday is the official grand opening of Trackside at Northfield Park, the track’s new sports bar. With three 100” flat screen monitors (among the three-dozen-plus screens available in the space), private seating areas, a full-service bar and direct access to our updated outdoor Trackside Patio, the place is a draw already, but on Friday we are giving away flat screen televisions, Indians Loge tickets and Fish Furniture Gift Certificates, with a drawing after each of the night’s first twelve races. Check out the leather furniture, the theater seating and the great atmosphere while having a chance to win some great stuff. 

SUPER CLASSICO- It was a tough weekend for several $175,000 Cleveland Classic competitors, with Sand Shooter finishing fourth and Up Front Hannahsboy finishing fifth in their respective $100,000 Burlington splits at Mohawk Raceway, near Toronto, but it was Daley Deposit Only who had the toughest weekend. Sent off the third choice in the $500,000 New Jersey Classic at The Meadowlands, he was parked out the entire mile from post nine, pressuring the fractions. Just a bit more than a length back at the head of the stretch, he tired badly to finish ninth. Others worth watching as they attempt to earn their way into the Classic include a pair from the Dan Altmeyer Stable, Shoot First and Lookout Hanover, and Jodi Schillaci-trainee Western Outfitter, who races here as part of our special Tuesday, June 3 live card. First race post is 6:30 that night, and Western Outfitter is in the 14th race on the 15-race card.

PLATE IT UP- We have been so busy telling you about how to win the Pontiac Solstice on Cleveland Classic night, June 21, that we neglected to tell you that everybody who pays regular admission that night gets a free license plate holder. That plate holder, when attached to your license plate (and vehicle), grants you free parking at Northfield for the rest of the year. The entry box for the Solstice giveaway opened Sunday, June 1, and patrons may enter once a day, every day, until the June 21 drawing, including our special Tuesday, June 3 live card. Nine finalists will be drawn on June 21 and each will then randomly select a horse in a designated race. The contestant with the winning horse wins the car. Jay Automotive Group co-sponsors the giveaway.

TWICE AS NICE- KP previously mentioned the free admission, parking and TV carrels on tap for Friday, July 4, as well as the fifty-cent live past performance programs, but that offer is now twice as good. The same deal is being offered on our special Thursday, July 3 live card. That special Thursday features the initial Ohio Sires Stakes legs for two-year-old colts, both on the trot and on the pace… Perfect Door and Lucca’s Revenge each posted their second consecutive feature wins on Saturday. Perfect Door took the top Winners Over Pace in 1:54.3. He has not been worse than second in his last six starts for owner Shirley Otto of Jefferson, and trainer Jim Otto. Lucca’s Revenge won for the fifth time in his last eight starts with a 1:59.2 Winners Over Trot win for owners Don Shafer of Ravenna and Charles Ferrette of Solon. He is trained by Kevin Ehrhardt.

For more information on items in Keeping Pace, contact Keith Gisser at 330-467-4101, ext. 215, or by e-mail at info@northfieldpark.com 

NEW YORK, NEW YORK FOR BETHARNESS- TrackNet, the account wagering consortium of which BetHarness.com and BetRunners.com are a part, has entered into a contract to accept wagering on nearly all New York tracks, including NYRA (Aqueduct, Belmont and Saratoga), Monticello, Buffalo, Finger Lakes, Saratoga Harness, Tioga Downs and Vernon Downs. Implementation is expected as this is written, meaning account holders may be able to start wagering on these tracks as soon as tomorrow. Most importantly, the Belmont Stakes, on Saturday, June 7, where Big Brown will attempt to win the thoroughbred Triple Crown, will be available for wagering on the two sites. BetHarness and BetRunners allow patrons the chance to  withdraw and deposit cash at Northfield Park. Log on to www.betharness.com for  details.

SUMMER SOLSTICE UPDATE- Ah, symmetry. Saturday, June 21 is the summer solstice and on that day Northfield is giving away a brand new Pontiac Solstice, The entry box for the drawing opens on Sunday, June 1. Patrons may enter once a day each day between June 1 and the 21st. The car will be given away as part of the festivities on Cleveland Classic night, and the winner must be present to take the vehicle home. Complete contest rules will be posted at www.northfieldpark.com prior to June 1. Jay Auto Group co-sponsors the giveaway with Northfield Park.  

CLASSICO- The $175,000 Cleveland Classic is June 21 and Sand Shooter is looking like a possible favorite. Owned by Bill Sanders and Jerry Silva, who bought into the colt in November, the son of Western Hanover picked up a 1:51.1 win in his seasonal debut, a $42,552 Pennsylvania Sires Stake at The Meadows on May 9. Trainer Jim Arledge, Jr., plans to race him lightly this year, but the Classic is a definite possibility for the colt, who banked over $329,000 last year at two. Papa Hemingway is another possible Classic entrant. Owned by Gary Cook and trainer Brian Brown, he has been competitive racing in Pennsylvania this year, with a career bankroll of $41,000 despite being lightly raced. Trainer Dan Daley’s homebred Daley Deposit Only has been money in the bank for Ann-Mari Daley, Jared Daley, Richard Lombardo (of Solon) and Brian Doolittle. He won a $25,000 New Jersey Classic elim in 1:51.4 at The Meadowlands earlier this month after an eye-popping 1:51.2 qualifier at Pompano Park. The $500,000 New Jersey Classic Final is Saturday, May 31. Blueridge Western has hovered just outside the sport’s Top Ten all year and finished second to Badlands Nitro in the $301,072 Hempt Final at Pocono Downs on Saturday. He has eight career wins and earnings of $366,862 for owner George Leon.

 THIS AND THAT- Speaking of the Cleveland Classic, last year’s winner, Won The West, took the $200,000 Dan Patch at Hoosier Park Saturday in 1:50, defeating this year’s Battle of Lake Erie champ Bono Bests, among others… Speaking of Dan Patch, the book Crazy Good, detailing the brilliant pacer’s exploits, is available in Northfield’s gift shop, and Players Club members get 10% off the $26.00 retail price. Free Crazy Good bookmarks are available at the gift shop and at the main program stand. The book was written by Charles Leerhsen, a Sports Illustrated Editor who has co-written books with Donald Trump and Chuck Yeager… Defending driving champ Aaron Merriman, with 22 wins in May, has retaken the lead in the local driver standings, 175-174, over Ryan Stahl, who has led most of the year. Twenty-one-year-old Matt Kakaley is third with 168 local wins… Don’t forget, Northfield races a special Tuesday card, with a 6:30 first-post, on June 3. Horsemen should note that the draw for that card is Friday, May 30.

For more information on items in Keeping Pace, contact Keith Gisser at 330-467-4101, ext. 215, or by e-mail at info@northfieldpark.com 

CLEVELAND CLASSIC- Northfield’s richest race of the year, the $175,000 Cleveland Classic, is set for Saturday, June 21, and in addition to having a chance to watch and wager on some of the top three-year-old pacing colts in the sport, one patron will go home with a brand new automobile. The track is giving away a brand new Pontiac Solstice that night, in conjunction with Jay Auto Group.

The Cleveland Classic website will be available later this week, but for the time being, a list of nominess is available on the Hambletonian website . Among the greats to win past Cleveland Classics are Jake And Elwood, Precious Bunny, Life Sign, Gallo BLue Chip, Falcon's Future, and Allamerican Captor.