Northfield: Bettor's Wish controls pace, takes Milstein Memorial

The $400,000 Carl Milstein Memorial for 3-year-old colt and gelding pacers looked to be a very competitive race on paper heading into Saturday's contest at Northfield Park, but the complexion changed radically into the first turn as Dexter Dunn and Bettor's Wish, leaving from post three, froze the competition.

Dunn was able to quickly secure the front with the 4-5 favorite off the bend, and the action slowed from there. A slow half was followed by a fast one, and Bettor's Wish was dominant winning in 1:50 3/5 over Captain Victorious, who followed him around the track from off the opening bend.

The field was reduced to seven with the early scratch of American Mercury and noses were on the gate leaving as Captain Victorious pushed hard from the rail, with Yannick Gingras seating Century Farroh. Workin Ona Mystery, with Tim Tetrick driving, could not get an angle from post five and relented while remaining two-wide on the opening bend. Dunn took control, and once he hit the opening quarter in 28 2/5, the race was his to lose.

"If he got beat after that, it would have been because of an off night," said Dunn following the race.

The fractions wouldn't get much quicker as Tetrick and Workin Ona Mystery tentatively tried to roll up without cover, but Bettor's Wish had the half in 57 flat, and the pace would pick up big time on the third turn. With the outer tier floundering, Dunn called on Bettor's Wish to pace, and he kicked off a 27 1/5 third quarter, losing Workin Ona Mystery and essentially leaving him with just the pocket-sitting Captain Victorious to beat. That would prove an easy task as the Chris Ryder-trained colt shifted into overdrive with a 26 2/5 final quarter to complete the mile well in front of Captain Victorious. Century Farroh held on for third over Yankee Boots, with Southwind Ozzi luckless in fifth.

It was the sixth win in nine starts this year for Bettor's Wish, who is owned by Ryder, Bella Racing, Fair Island Farm, and Bettor's Wish Partners. He returned $3.80 to win, with the exacta with Captain Victorious coming in at $48.

Dunn downplayed the early pace. "They pay the same no matter how fast you go," Dunn said.

Bettor's Wish will likely go next in two weeks in the Messenger Stakes elimination at Yonkers, with a final (August 31) he'll need to win in order to find a way into the Little Brown Jug in September.

"He's great on a half, great on a five-eighths, and great on a mile," said Dunn, who thought Bettor's Wish would be just perfect for the Delaware, Ohio Fairgrounds, the site of the final jewel in Pacing's Triple Crown, the Little Brown Jug.