Northfield: Charlie May hopes for hometown advantage in Milstein

Trainer Steve Carter has already been through the highs and lows of the sport. For the trainer of Charlie May, who looks to capture Saturday's $300,000 Carl Milstein Memorial at Northfield Park, the highs and lows came on one night and in one race.

"It was like they said at the beginning of ABC's Wide World of Sports," Carter said. "The thrill of victory and the agony of defeat."

The thrill was watching Charlie May capture the Meadowlands Pace, and the agony came minutes later when his number was taken down by disqualification.

"I think it was one of the greatest races by a horse," Carter said of the overland journey that saw Charlie May break stride before three-quarters, yet still have something left to overtake the field to finish first in the Meadowlands Pace.

It's August now and Charlie May has put the Meadowlands Pace in the rear-view mirror. He has moved on with successive stakes victories over Ohio-sired foes to his credit. The altered son of McArdle got back on the winning track first at Northfield Park on July 31, pacing in 1:50 4/5 while overcoming post eight in a $50,000 Ohio Sires Stakes contest. Last Saturday, Charlie May returned to Scioto with another easy win in a $60,700 Ohio State Fair event for sophomore colt and gelding pacers.

"He's good and fit right now," said Carter, who continues to marvel at the consistency he's seen over the last two years. Charlie May shows up every time Carter enters him to race.

This Saturday's Milstein once again puts Charlie May at odds with the draw, as he landed post seven in a field of nine that includes a trailer. Regular pilot Brett Miller will have to navigate the first turn, but Charlie May has proven on more than one occasion that he can handle whatever Miller throws at him. Specifically in the Milstein, there will be speed inside that must be dealt with in the form of Water Sports Teen (post two), who enters the race after suffering his first loss after three straight wins since joining the Jennifer Bongiorno stable.

Water Sports Teen captured his Adios elimination at The Meadows on July 24 in a career-best 1:48 2/5 clocking but couldn't repeat the effort in the final, falling to third in the stretch as the 9-10 public choice. Prior to his outings at The Meadows, Water Sports Teen had a 1:51 victory over the Yonkers half-mile, and that kind of speed makes him a serious threat in the Milstein.

The Milstein was by invitation only, and one of Charlie May's biggest in-state rivals - Heart Of Chewbacca (post nine) - will be looking for another chance a glory. Heart Of Chewbacca was a soild second to Charlie May after racing from off-the-pace into a wicked final half at Scioto last Saturday. The Ron Burke-trained son of Bring On The Beach flashed 1:50 4/5 speed in his Ohio Sires Stakes victory at Northfield on July 31.

The Indiana-sired Rockin On Venus has won eight of his 12 starts this year for trainer Kelly O'Donnell and will get tested for toughness in the deep Milstein field. Rockin On Venus drew post three and comes right back in six days after a 1:51 4/5 victory over the Northfield half-miler this past Sunday.

Last year, Bettor Sun was one of the better horses in the Ontario Sires Stakes program. This year, he's had some ups and downs but arrives in the Milstein on an upswing following a 1:49 score at Woodbine Mohawk Park on July 31. Doug McNair will guide the gelded son of Sunshine Beach from the pole position, where he can utilize his early speed.

The Milstein goes as race 10 of 16 on the Saturday evening Northfield Park program, with an approximate post time of 9:30 p.m.

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Trainer Carter has a pair of 2-year-olds racing on the Northfield card as well in Ohio Sires Stakes events, with Shane Falco, a Racing Hill-sired half-brother to Charlie May, set to battle in the $50,000 division carded as race six.

"He's a Racing Hill, and he's a McArdle," is how Carter summed up the clear difference between the brothers. He sees few similarities at this time other than they are both "easy keepers."

Shane Falco has been consistent this year, finishing on the board in all five of his career starts.

"He was very good in his last start, finishing behind two very good horses," said Carter of Shane Falco.

Tre Cruz (post five) goes in the second $50,000 Sires Stakes division carded as race seven.

"He's a nice horse," said Carter of the altered son of Yankee Cruiser that comes off a pair of second-place finishes in his last two stakes encounters.

The Ohio Sires Stakes events on Saturday at Northfield encompass the first seven races on the card and begin at 6:00 p.m. They share the undercard spotlight with a pair of $100,000 Ohio-sired Invitationals, the Tom Aldrich Trot, headlined by It's Academic, and the Myron Charna Pace, with Ocean Rock tabbed as the 5-2 morning-line chalk.

The night also features three guaranteed wagering opportunities: a $20,000 promised Pick 5 pool starting in race six, a $10,000 Pick 4 in race 11, and the nightly $10,000 guaranteed Hi-5 in race 13.