Northfield: Fear The Dragon headlines $300,000 Milstein Memorial
The Carl Milstein Memorial, Northeast Ohio’s premier race, is scheduled for its fourth edition on Saturday, August 12. The Milstein, a Grand Circuit Event, has graduated the last two winners of the Little Brown Jug.
Fear The Dragon has drawn the rail and has been named the 3-5 morning-line favorite by Northfield Park Executive Vice President of Racing and Simulcasting Dave Bianconi. He enters this race as the United States Trotting Association’s top ranked horse in harness racing, having won nine of 10 starts and $924,453 this year. Fear The Dragon’s wins include victories in the $730,000 North America Cup at Mohawk, the $500,000 Max Hempt at Pocono and the $400,000 Adios at the Meadows. His trainer, Brian Brown, Hall of Fame driver David Miller, and owner-breeder Bruce Trogdon, proprietor of Emerald Highlands Farm, are all native Ohioans.
“We have had some really great horses race at Northfield over the years and Fear The Dragon’s resume ranks right up there with the best of them,” said Bianconi.
Thirteen-time winner Downbytheseaside, another Brian Brown trainee, drew post seven and is the 9-2 second choice. He has finished in the top three in 21 of 22 career races, earning over $1.1 million. His most recent effort was a third-place finish in the $334,325 Cane Pace at The Meadowlands in New Jersey.
THE $300,000 CARL MILSTEIN MEMORIAL FIELD:
Post Horse Trainer Driver* Odds
1 Fear The Dragon Brian Brown David Miller 3-5
2 Blood Line Jimmy Takter Mark MacDonald 6-1
3 Drunk On Your Love Jim Pollock Jr Tyler Smith 20-1
4 Classic Pro Ian Moore Trevor Henry 10-1
5 Rock N Tony Erv Miller Trace Tetrick 15-1
6 Bags To Riches Jason Skinner Tim Tetrick 12-1
7 Downbytheseaside Brian Brown Brian Sears 9-2
8 R J P Ron Burke Yannick Gingras 8-1
*Final driver selections are due by Tuesday evening.
The Carl Milstein Memorial will be well supported with an undercard featuring the $50,000 Myron Charna President’s Pace for Ohio-bred veteran pacers, three $40,000 divisions of the Ohio Sires Stakes for 3-year-old filly pacers and three $14,000 Opens.
First race post time for the Carl Milstein Memorial card is 6:00 p.m.
-edited release (Northfield Park)