Northfield: Charlie May topples world record in Milstein Memorial

Charlie May made a thunderous move down the backstretch and cruised to an open-lengths victory in the $300,000 Carl Milstein Memorial for 3-year-old colt and gelding pacers at Northfield Park on Saturday night, setting a world record in winning over the half-mile oval in 1:48 4/5. Brett Miller guided the altered son of McArdle to his fifth win of the season.

From the outset the Milstein was action hot and heavy, as Bettor Sun and driver Doug McNair set the tempo early, forcing Bayfield Beach into a two-hole on the opening bend and then parking second choice Water Sports Teen to the quarter before yielding after that marker, which went on the board in 26 seconds flat. Yannick Gingras wasted no time with the recently-acquired Ron Burke trainee Bayfield Beach and made another move with that colt on the second turn, getting right up to Water Sports Teen in a scorching 53 2/5 first-half. Heart Of Chewbacca was drafting second-over and Charlie May had set up shop third-over after finding a solid spot on the opening bend from post seven.

Miller had live cover, as he did in the Meadowlands Pace with Charlie May, but this time was able to sidestep a Burke-trained Heart Of Chewbacca when that one made a nasty break late on the third turn. Miller then wasted no time to hit the accelerator, and Charlie May made a sweep down the backstretch to blow right past the leaders near the 1:20 4/5 three-quarters and open an insurmountable lead on the final bend. Mysweetboymax followed that move wide but was a distant second, with Water Sports Teen holding gamely in the stretch for third.

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Sent off as the 6-5 favorite, Charlie May paid $4.60 to win for owner-breeder Don R. Tiger and trainer Steve Carter.

"We got a little lucky on the first turn," said Miller in his post race interview. "Once he made the front he let up a little."

Miller, on the other hand, did not let up, crossing the wire with a fist pump to the Northfield crowd.

Weslynn Quest clocked the fastest trotting mile on a half-mile track in harness racing history in capturing the initial $100,000 Tom Aldrich President's Trot in 1:50 4/5 for driver Joe Bongiorno. The 5-year-old daughter of Manofmanymissions captured the all-Ohio invitational for trainer Per Engblom and owners Buckstone Land Livestock and John Barnard.

Ocean Rock blew away his rivals in setting the second straight world record at Northfield with a 1:48 1/5 mile for driver Dan Noble in the $100,000 Myron Charna President's Pace. A 4-year-old gelded son of Rockin Amadeus, Ocean Rock led from start to finish, blitzing a final-half in 53 2/5. Owned by Sandra Burnett, Ocean Rock is trained by Christi Noble.