Northfield: Burke Brigade bags President's Trot, President's Pace

Two of trainer Ron Burke's stars, It's Academic and Bythemissal, won the $100,000 Tom Aldrich President's Trot and $100,000 Myron Charna President's Pace for older Ohio-sired horses and geldings on Saturday night at MGM Northfield Park.

It's Academic lowered the race-mile world record for an older stallion on a half-mile track to 1:51 4/5 in the taking the Aldrich. He led through fractions of 27 1/5, 56 4/5 and 1:24 3/5 from the pole position and defeated pocket-sitter Refined (Tyler Smith) by 2 1/4 lengths. Caviar Gold (Aaron Merriman) came in third.

The previous race-mile world record was 1:52 set by Guardian Angel As at Northfield on 6-29-19. The overall world record remains Cash Hall's 1:51 1/5 time trial at the Delaware County Fair on 9-21-06.

"He's just been on top of his game the last couple of months. He raced very well tonight," said winning driver David Miller after the race. "He's a really nice horse to get along with. He does whatever I want him to do. I just can't talk enough about him. He's just awesome."

Brad Grant owns the 6-year-old son of Uncle Peter who won for the 29th time from 76 career starts and has now earned $1,826,096. He paid $2.10 across the board as the 1-9 favorite.

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Bythemissal (Yannick Gingras) was fourth at the 25 4/5 opening quarter in the Charna but went on the attack on the second bend and brushed past stablemate Risenshine Seaside (Ronnie Wrenn Jr.) beyond the 53 3/5 half. It was all Bythemissal from there as he got separation on the others en route to the 1:21 three-quarters and cruised home in 27 2/5 to defeat Risenshine Seaside by four lengths in 1:48 2/5, just missing the world record for a 4-year-old on a half-mile track by a fifth of a second. Odds On Shaggy (Smith) collected third.

"He got a little keyed up there in the second turn, so I just moved him back instead of fighting with him. He's got really great speed," remarked Gingras. "He had plenty left finishing, too, but we weren't trying to go after any records or anything like that."

Burke Racing Stable LLC., Eric Good, Rich Lombardo Racing LLC. and Weaver Bruscemi LLC. own Bythemissal. The son of Downbytheseaside has a record of 19-2-1 from 23 starts, has pocketed $1,345,368 and also returned $2.10 across the board after being dispatched at 1-9.