Northfield: Mossdale Ben N fires in Battle Of Lake Erie

It's never easy to leave from post two on a half-mile track, especially when there is speed to your inside, but driver Jimmy Marohn Jr., a regular at Yonkers, showed his mettle, putting Mossdale Ben N in a prime position and then pouncing to paydirt in capturing the Grade 2 $250,000 Battle Of Lake Erie at Northfield Park on Saturday night in a 1:48 4/5 mile.

Marohn Jr. and a few others tried to leave the gate, but rail-starting Women Layer with Luke Hanners was not having it and pressed forward from the start, seating both Mossdale Ben N and Captain Albano into the first turn. Helium N, with Dan Noble, wouldn't take a hole and instead rolled on to challenge for the lead. There would be no leads, as Women Layer laid down the fractions and Helium N took the air, getting parked to the quarter in 25 4/5 and half in 52 3/5. Todd McCarthy got underway early with Captian Albano and set himself up second-over, with Prince Hal Hanover coming up third- over in the outer flow.

Women Layer disposed of Helium N nearing the three quarters clocked in 1:20, but that allowed Marohn Jr. to move Mossdale Ben N from the pocket and go on the offensive. Captain Albano rallied wide, followed by Prince Hal Hanover with Matt Kakaley. Mossdale Ben N was determined to gain control into the stretch and had to fight off a hard-charging Prince Hal Hanover to preserve the victory by a nose. Huntinthelasdolar had a cone-skimming trip and rallied for third ahead of Women Layer and Captain Albano.

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Trained by Peter Tritton, who captured the Battle in 2018 with Bit Of A Legend N, Mossdale Ben N is owned by P J T Investments. The 2025 Borgata Series champion, Mossdale Ben N was a winner for the fifth time in 13 starts this year and returned $15.80 to win.

"I didn't think there was going to be that much front-end speed," said Marohn Jr. in the winner's circle. "I was lucky enough to get room up the backside and get out."

Odds On Chesapeake found a live cover trip for Todd McCarthy and rallied to capture the $100,000 Buckeye Distaff, an exclusive event for Ohio-sired older pacing mares. Trained by Virgil Morgan Jr., Odds On Chesapeake scored in 1:51 flat at the expense of a rugged No Foolin April, who battled coverless for the final five-eighths. Hey Hey Mama cut the pace and finished third.

Odds On Racing owns the 4-year-old daughter of Downbytheseaside.

The win helped Morgan Jr. reach 8,000 career training victories when added to a triple at Scioto tonight.