Northfield: Dragon Striker breathes fire in record mile

Dragon Striker, racing in an $8,400 overnight contest on Saturday night at Northfield Park, tied Dancin Yankee's 1:48 4/5 world record for an aged stallion pacer on a half-mile track and also lowered the all-age track record.

Driven by Aaron Merriman for trainer C. Brian Loney, Dragon Striker shot to the point from the pole position and carved out fractions of 26 4/5, 54 3/5, and 1:21 2/5 before coming home in 27 2/5 to win the race by 4 1/2 lengths.

The previous all-age standard at Northfield had been 1:49 and belonged to a trio of horses: Cam's Valentino (2018), Scott Rocks (2016), and None Bettor (2019).

A 6-year-old horse by Dragon Again, Dragon Striker is also owned by Loney. This was Dragon Striker's 15th career win and lowered his previous lifetime mark of 1:50 3/5 taken last year at Woodbine Mohawk Park.