Northfield: Funatthebeach N upsets again in Battle of Lake Erie

Funatthebeach N, following the exact script he used in the rich MGM Borgata Pacing Series final back in April, drove past Jimmy Freight in the late stages to capture Saturday's $200,000 Battle of Lake Erie at Northfield Park. Jordan Stratton was again behind the 8-year-old son of Somebeachsomewhere and guided him to a personal-best 1:49 2/5 mark in the process.

With nine horses in the field, Nicholas Beach blasted from post two at the start for Joe Bongiorno to get the top but was encountered by a host of leavers, with Ocean Rock and Dan Noble the most persistent through the opening bend. Defending champion This Is The Plan left between horses and kept Tattoo Artist three-wide for a good part of the opening quarter.

Ocean Rock cleared off the opening bend and was put to intense pressure by Tattoo Artist and Mark MacDonald, who had found the two path, with Ronnie Wrenn Jr. doing his best to strangle back This Is The Plan and find a seat. Also on the go from the get-go was Jimmy Freight from post eight, as he left with purpose but had to wait his turn on the outside to advance. After a 25 2/5 opening quarter, the pace was pushed to the limit, with Ocean Rock and Tattoo Artist throwing down to a half of 52 3/5. Billy Davis Jr., behind Jimmy Freight, moved with purpose to get a second-over trip by the half, followed by Funatthebeach N and Stratton in third-over position.

With the pace slowing ever so slightly, Davis made his move down the backstretch, and Jimmy Freight responded, overpowering the leaders through three-quarters in 1:21 and hoping to hold off the closers. Yet Stratton and Funatthebeach N had other ideas. The Mark Ford-trained-and-owned veteran responded in the homestretch and got the better of Jimmy Freight after that one did the heavy lifting. At the wire, Funatthebeach N was clear, with Jimmy Freight just holding off Sectionline Bigry, who had weaved through traffic to get out on the final turn and finished in overdrive. This Is The Plan also had an adventurous journey and cut to the inside late for fourth, with Catch The Fire fifth in the mile.

Sent off as a 24-1 shot, Funatthebeach N returned $51.20 to win.

"I was happy to follow Jimmy Freight," said Stratton following the race.

As for the type of trip, "It's his bread and butter."

The owner-trainer also thought he has a rarity in Funatthebeach N.

"He's a very good half-mile track horse that can't leave the gate,” said Ford, who gave credit to Jeff Gillis for much of the horse's success this year.

Now a seven-time winner in 2022, Funatthebeach N improved his earnings to in excess of $512,000 this year.

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In the $35,000 MGM Buckeye Distaff pace for Ohio-sired mares, Snobbytown and Wrenn Jr. took control before the quarter and romped to a 1:50 1/5 victory over Screamin Demon and Adorabella. Ron Burke trains the well-traveled daughter of Nob Hill High who won for the 24th time in her career.

Wrenn Jr. also captured both $55,000 Ohio Sires Stakes events for 3-year-old male pacers early in the program. Wrenn first guided the undefeated Bythemissal to a career-best 1:50 1/5 mark, surviving a couple of missteps along the way in turning back a determined Western Ready at the finish. Ron Burke trains Bythemissal, a Downbytheseaside-sired gelding.

Gulf Shores captured his first stakes event of the year for Wrenn Jr. in the second division, coming without cover and wearing down the pace-setter Sling Shock on the way to a 1:51 victory. Brian Brown trains Gulf Shores, who finished second, beaten just a nose, back in last year's Breeders Crown final.