The 39th edition of the “War on the Shore”, the $200,000 (Grade 2) Battle of Lake Erie at MGM Northfield Park, drew the who’s who in Standardbred racing, with nine of the sport’s top older pacers taking center stage on Saturday (June 7).
“Top to bottom, this is one of the greatest fields to race in Northfield Park’s long standing stakes event,” said Director of Racing Dave Bianconi. “It is truly a wide open field, with all nine horses well deserving of an invitation.
With over $2.4 million in career earnings, Bythemissal returns to the “Home of the Flying Turns” a racetrack where he has had a lot of success throughout his career.
With victories in some of the sport’s top races including the Carl Milstein Memorial, the Little Brown Jug and the Breeders Crown, the nation’s leading trainer Ron Burke is looking forward to trying to add the Battle of Lake Erie to Bythemissal’s résumé.
“Missal has won just about everything there is to win at Northfield Park, but this race has eluded him,” said Burke. “In the Auger last week, he really had to work hard to fight off Spring Inhis Step A and Mossdale Ben N, he showed he has the heart of a champion.”
After a lightly-raced 5-year-old campaign in 2024, the Burke trainee is yet to miss the board in 2025, with a third-place finish in the $100,000 Pacey Mindlin Memorial at Miami Valley Gaming and victories against Open company at Scioto Downs and the $100,000 Joe Auger Memorial at Harrah’s Philadelphia.
While the connections of Bythemissal are looking forward to Saturday, they know he will have a tall task in front of him.
“The Battle historically is one of the toughest races of the year, this year is no different,” said Burke. “It is a loaded field with some of the sports best. It’s going to be tough to win.”
In 2024, nothing went Desperate Man’s way, and that included the Battle of Lake Erie. Desperate Man made a miscue in the first turn causing him to go off stride, but the talented son sired by Shadow Play dug in late making up a lot of ground, finishing third only beaten by three-quarters of a length.
Desperate Man rebounded nicely to finish the year with victories in the $100,000 Robert J. Kane Memorial at Batavia Downs Gaming and the $250,000 Aria Invitational at Yonkers Raceway.
The talented field also features the $516,000 MGM Borgata Pacing Series champion Mossdale Ben N, who earned a spot in the field with a victory in the Grade 1 event at Yonkers Raceway.
Mossdale Ben N took a couple weeks off following that performance and followed it up with a third-place effort in the $100,000 Joe Auger Memorial at Harrah’s Philadelphia.
“I would’ve liked to be a little closer in the Auger,” said trainer Peter Tritton. “I wasn’t expecting much out of him in that race, but I was very happy with how it ended up.
Tritton, who won the 2018 Battle of Lake Erie with Bit Of A Legend N, would love to win the storied event once again.
“We’d like to keep it in the family,” laughed Tritton, referring to his son Shane and daughter-in-law Lauren winning the 2023 edition with Lochinvar Art A.
“It would be amazing to win again. Bit Of A Legend N won from post five. The draw fits Mossdale Ben N very well.”
Little Rocket Man will try to do what only Jaguar Spur (1988, 1989) and Peruvian Hanover (2002, 2003) have done and that is win the Battle of Lake Erie in back-to-back seasons.
While defending Battle of Lake Erie champion Little Rocket Man drew post eight in this year’s event, he has proven his ability to win from the outside. He came from out of the clouds in 2024, with a four-wide sweeping move around the final turn storming home to win by a half-length in 1:52 4/5.
Also competing in Saturday’s Battle of Lake Erie is local favorite and earner of over $769,000 Dunkin’, Breeders Crown and Little Brown Jug runner-up Seven Colors, Pennsylvania-based speedster Ken Hanover, $1.3 million earner Chase H Hanover, and New Zealand import Helium N.
Rich undercard stake
The stacked undercard for Saturday’s Battle of Lake Erie is highlighted by the $75,000 MGM Buckeye Distaff at MGM Northfield Park.
The invitational for Ohio Sired Mares, 4-year-olds and up, showcases some of the top talent the Buckeye State has to offer.
The nation’s leading trainer, Ron Burke, will pack a one-two-punch in the undercard feature with Fearless Ginger and Naked On A Hill both taking a swing at the top prize.
Fearless Ginger earned $53,860 in her freshman campaign, all without a victory. She hit the board in every start as a 2-year-old with the lone exception being the $300,000 Ohio Sires Stakes Championship.
Returning to the races at 3, Fearless Ginger broke her maiden in a $15,000 leg of the Almahurst at Eldorado Scioto Downs.
Things started to go her way at the end of her 3-year-old season. After making a break in the $100,000 (Grade 3) Courageous Lady at Northfield Park, she shipped to Dayton, finishing second by a nose in the $75,000 Buckeye Stallion Series Championship.
The daughter of Fear The Dragon just kept getting better through the winter, stepping up to face Open company at Dayton.
Since taking time off in March, she has reeled off three Open victories.
“It’s taken her some time to get rolling. We’re really happy with how she is progressing,” said Burke.
Burke will also send out Naked On A Hill in the MGM Buckeye Distaff.
An earner of just shy of $375,000, the 4-year-old by Nob Hill High was a Buckeye Stallion Series Champion at 2, and while she had some success against Sires Stakes company at 3, she finished seventh in the $300,000 Ohio Sires Stakes championship.
On Saturday, she gets post relief after two straight outside draws at Scioto Downs.
“She should be better this week with an improved post draw,” said Burke. “She has been a little off her game as of late, a change in scenery should do her some good.”
Also competing in Saturday’s $75,000 MGM Buckeye Distaff is 2024 Ohio Sires Stakes champion My Red Sea, Beautiful Seaside, 2023 Ohio Sires Stakes champion Tarapasta, No Foolin April, defending MGM Buckeye Distaff winner Racing For Three, Hey Hey Mama, and Do It Like Bobbi.
The Battle of Lake Erie program will have several great wagering opportunities including a $25,000 estimated Pick-4 pool beginning in Race 11 and a $20,000 estimated Super High-5 in Race 13, the MGM Buckeye Distaff.
Post time on Saturday is 6:00 p.m.
-edited release (By Michael Carter for MGM Northfield)