Northfield: Foiled Again brave in Battle of Lake Erie victory

You just can’t keep a great horse down.

Foiled Again overcame yet another impossible trip and simply refused to lose in the $175,000 Battle of Lake Erie for older pacers at Northfield Park on Friday night. In the process, he became the first ever $7 million horse in standardbred history.

The pace was fast with Luck Be Withyou darting out to command in 26 seconds. Cammikey secured the pocket ahead of fellow leaver Big Boy Dreams in third. Foiled Again was first to pull on the second turn and inched closer providing live cover to uncoupled stable mate Clear Vision by the half in 53 4/5.

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Luck Be Withyou and driver Ronnie Wrenn, Jr. kept his foot on the gas to three quarters in 1:21 3/5, but the 4-year-old started losing his rhythm and made a costly break. Foiled Again, who appeared before the break to be in a tough spot to win, would assume control and gamely fended off both Clear Vision (2nd) and Cammikey (3rd) from both sides for the 1:50 3/5 victory, his first of 2015.

“He’s just the toughest horse ever in the history of Harness Racing,” said winning driver Matt Kakaley. “Going into the last turn I figured if I was close he would just out-grit them home.”

Ron Burke, who trains the now $7,012,531 career earner for Burke Racing Stable, Weaver Bruscemi and JJK Stables, was all smiles in the winner’s circle.

“He’s the horse that built our barn,” said Burke, who mentioned the Ben Franklin eliminations at Pocono Downs on June 27 as his next stakes start.

With the Battle of Lake Erie victory, his third Battle title, the 11-year-old Foiled Again has 84 wins in 229 career starts.

Foiled Again paid $13.00 to win.