Carolina Beach has been knocking on the door for several weeks since moving up to the Open ranks. On Sunday (April 30), he put it all together to score an upset victory in the $19,000 co-feature.
Several horses left in front of Carolina Beach and driver Aaron Merriman, as there was a mad dash for the lead through the opening turn. Cyclone Banner N (Ronnie Wrenn Jr.) tried to defend pylon position, but Dancin Dragon (Kurt Sugg) was able to work his way past up the backstretch. However, that lead was short-lived as Almanac (Billy Davis Jr.) finally cleared the leader past a torrid :26.3 opening panel. Coming to the half in a blistering :54, Carolina Beach, who had been parked since the word go, challenged the leader into the clubhouse turn.
Entering the backstrtetch, it appeared that Carolina Beach was done, but when the field reached three-quarters in 1:21.4, Merriman found another gear. The leaders duelled through much of the stretch, but Carolina Beach was able to wear down Almanac to win by 1-1/4 lengths in 1:51.1. Bernie rallied late to finish a game second, while Almanac tired to third.
Owned by trainer Renee Bercury, the talented nine-year-old Somebeachsomewhere gelding has 53 career victories and $688,823 to his credit.
Eye Ofa Tiger As rebounded off a tough defeat last week to win Sunday's $19,000 Open Trot for driver Billy Davis Jr. and trainer Mark Headworth.
Big Bad Caviar (Greg Grismore) and Barn Hall (Aaron Merriman) made bids for the lead, leaving the wings, but Big Bad Caviar was able to defend inside position and clear into the backstretch, reaching the quarter in :27.1. Grismore worked out a breather in the second panel of :29.2; Davis had seen enough, though, as he sent Eye Ofa Tiger AS to the outside to bid for the lead. At three-quarters in 1:24.4, the leaders were on even terms with Barn Hall and Rose Run Xtra (Wrenn) pressuring the pace. Turning for home, Eye Ofa Tiger AS worked past Big Bad Caviar and fended off a late bid from Rose Run Xtra to win by a head in 1:54.
Owned by breeder ACL Stuteri AB and Kjell Johansson, the nine-year-old son of Chapter Seven has banked $864,217 with 38 career wins.
Live harness racing resumes on Tuesday evening at 6 p.m at MGM Northfield Park.
(With files from Northfield Park)
Southwind Amazon
Last week I wrote that I didn't think that Southwind Amazon would win 13 more races by the end of next year, which would make him the winningest standardbred of all time. He must have read my comment. He won last night's 8th race at Northfield at odds of 1-20, the 126th win of his career. Twelve more wins to go!