Northfield: Field drawn for Cleveland Trotting Classic
Northeast Ohio’s premier trotting race, the Cleveland Trotting Classic, will go to post Saturday (July 2) at Northfield Park. This will be the second edition of the Classic and it carries a purse of $180,000. The Grand Circuit event has attracted some of the best veteran trotters in North America and is carded as the 11th event on a 15-race program. First race post time is 6:00 p.m.
Shake It Cerry drew post three and has been named the 2-1 morning line favorite by Northfield Park Executive Vice President of Racing and Simulcasting Dave Bianconi. Although winless so far in 2016, the 5-year-old mare has 28 lifetime successes and earnings over $2.5 million.
Obrigado drew the rail and has been assigned a 3-1 morning line. He was the runner-up in last year’s Classic and has three wins in six starts this season, most recently a 1:53 3/5 score in the $210,000 Charlie Hill Memorial at Scioto Downs on June 11.
Local favorite Like Old Times enters this event off two straight wins over the Flying Turns. She was the 2015 Ohio Horse of the Year and is conditioned by Northfield Park Wall of Famer and Ohio trotmaster, Don McKirgan. Although programmed as a 25-1 longshot, she broke the track record for 4-year-old trotting mares just two weeks ago.
2016 Cleveland Trotting Classic field
| POST | HORSE | DRIVER | MORNING LINE |
| 1 | Obrigado | Mark MacDonald | 3-1 |
| 2 | Homicide Hunter | Dave Palone | 4-1 |
| 3 | Shake It Cerry | Aaron Merriman | 2-1 |
| 4 | Il Sogno Dream | Trevor Henry | 10-1 |
| 5 | Muscle Up The Goal | Aaron Merriman | 8-1 |
| 6 | Maestro Blue Chip | Victor Kirby | 6-1 |
| 7 | Like Old Times | Don McKirgan | 25-1 |
| 8 | Boffin | Jason Merriman | 25-1 |
*Driver selections will be finalized by 9 p.m. Tuesday evening.
-edited release (Northfield)