Northfield: Bythemissal routs rivals in Carl Milstein Memorial

Adios champion Bythemissal picked up another Grand Circuit victory on Saturday night at Northfield Park with an authoritative 1:48 4/5 triumph in the $300,000 Carl Milstein Memorial for sophomore male pacers. That clocking tied the world record for a 3-year-old gelding pacer on a half-mile track established by Charlie May when he won the Milstein a year ago.

Night Hawk (David Miller) shot out from the pole position to the early lead, but Bythemissal (Chris Page) drove on two-wide after showing some speed from post five and cleared Night Hawk for the top spot after the 26 2/5 opening quarter.

Bythemissal never really had an anxious moment after that as he rolled through a half in 54 1/5 and a three-quarters in 1:21 4/5, then pulled away in eye-catching fashion under a big hold to defeat stablemate JK Victory (Ronnie Wrenn Jr.) by 5 3/4 lengths. Soaring Now (Joey Putman) followed parked-out cover from second-over and came on to get third. Night Hawk faded to fourth and Sport Secret (Billy Davis Jr.) rounded out the top five.

"He was very good. He was actually having fun out there," said Page. "He won full of pace still, and that'll be good for next week."

Ron Burke trains Bythemissal, a Downbytheseaside colt bred by Dr. Stephen Dey III, for owners Burke Racing Stable LLC., Eric Good, Rich Lombardo Racing LLC., and Weaver Bruscemi LLC. Bythemissal has eight wins and a second from nine lifetime starts, has now earned $435,250, and paid $2.60 to win as the 1-5 favorite.

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"The Hempt next Saturday at Pocono [is next]," said Burke. "It's another big race, another big purse, and it's home for us in PA. It'll be a very good test for him again."