Northfield: Melillo doesn't disappoint in Carl Milstein Memorial

Melillo and Ronnie Wrenn Jr. found room along the pylons in early stretch and held off a furious late bid by Redland Rocket Man to capture the Grade 2 $300,000 Carl Milstein Memorial at Northfield Park on Saturday night. The Ron Burke-trained son of Sweet Lou stopped the timer in 1:50 4/5, gaining his third win of the season in the process.

The nine-horse invitational saw plenty of early action as Myboypank with Marvin Luna vaulted three-wide into the first turn to out-maneuver Wrenn Jr. and Melillo and gain control of the race. Melillo remained parked with stablemate Aces And Cinches clinging to his back after following him away from the second tier at the outset. Melillo had control in 26 4/5 but yielded to Aces And Cinches on the second turn.

Dan Noble and Borderline Mobby were left without cover on the turn and kept the pressure on the pace-setter for the remainder of the mile. Aces And Cinches took the field to the half in 54 3/5 and remained on top through three-quarters in 1:22. Redland Rocket Man and Brett Miller rallied three-wide from fourth-over on the backstretch and was pushed four-deep on the final turn when Fire Run and Atlee Bender rallied off his second-over cover trip to challenge.

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In the stretch Wrenn Jr. got the room he needed when Aces And Cinches tired and bore off the pylons, allowing him freedom with plenty of horse in reserve. Fire Run and Redland Rocket Man made strong charges of their own but couldn't reach Melillo, who prevailed by a neck on the line. Fire Run would settle for third with Aces And Cinches fourth and Borderline Mobby racing outside the entire trip but saving fifth.

Following close trips in the Adios and Meadowlands Pace, Melillo got his first signature win of the year for owners Burke Racing Stable, Jason Melillo and Weaver Bruscemi, who also bred the colt. As the odds-on favorite Melillo returned $2.60 to win.

"He's been knocking heads with the best horses in the country all year, and he's been so close so many times," said Wrenn Jr. following the victory. "I'm so happy for the horse he deserves it."