Northern Scene wins Barksdale Stakes

BOSSIER CITY, La. - Making his first start of the year, Northern Scene stalked a very quick pace in Monday's featured $50,000 Barksdale Stakes before firing down the lane and emerging on top in a three-horse photo finish. Dreamsandvisions and Commander Buck dead heated for the place, a half-length behind the winner and three quarters of a length in front of Witt Ante.

In a well judged ride by Lonnie Meche, Northern Scene was content to let Witt Ante carve out early fractions of :22.51 for the opening quarter and :45.40 for the half. After making a little progress on the leader through a blistering three quarter split of 1:09.71, Meche laid his mount down and they closed with good determination in a time of 1:34.87 for the mile, just three ticks off the course record for the mile over the John Franks Course that Cherokee Circle set in 1983.

The winner is trained by Morris Nicks for Don Eberts and the victory was the 5-year-old Northern Baby gelding?s seventh from 21 starts. Monday?s payday increased his career bankroll to over $223,000.