Northfield: Odds On Osiris captures Carl Milstein Memorial

Odds On Osiris, making his first start outside the state of Indiana, picked up a significant Grand Circuit victory by winning Saturday night's $250,000 Carl Milstein Memorial for 3-year-old colt and gelding pacers at Northfield Park in 1:50 1/5.

Driven by Peter Wrenn and starting from post two in the field of eight, Odds On Osiris stepped away quickly from the gate in his half-mile track debut and led early before giving way to sit in the pocket behind post eight starter Ocean Rock (Dan Noble) passing the 26 second opening quarter. Adios champion Catch The Fire (Mike Wilder) had drawn the pole position in the race but did not get away that well, ending up fourth and having to come first-over on the second turn.

Noble was able to steal a soft half of just 55 seconds for Ocean Rock, and when the pace quickened dramatically from there, Catch The Fire couldn't keep up and began to drop back prior to the 1:22 1/5 three-quarters. Wrenn was able to slip out two-wide before that marker, with Stanford Court (Ronnie Wrenn Jr.) going three-wide from second-over to get around the fading Catch The Fire.

Ocean Rock sustained his inside advantage in the three-wide fight around the last turn and continued to dig in gamely through the lane, but Odds On Osiris kicked again in the closing strides and was able to get up in time, defeating Ocean Rock by a quarter of a length. Stanford Court was a good third, followed by a charging Chief Mate (Scott Zeron) and Manticore (Chris Lems).

"He really deserved that. My plan was to hold position, but as it turned out Catch The Fire couldn't really get out there strong," said Wrenn. "He's never been anywhere but Hoosier and Sunshine Meadows, so this was all brand new, but he handled it like a professional."

A gelded son of Rockin Image, Odds On Osiris is trained by Melanie Wrenn for owner Odds On Racing. Last year's Indiana Sires Stakes champion in the 2-year-old colt and gelding pace division, Odds On Osiris has a record of 9-3-1 from 14 starts, and he has earned $500,395. Odds On Osiris, who will now head to Woodbine Mohawk Park for next Saturday's North America Cup eliminations, was the 6-1 third choice and paid $15.00 to win.

Ohio-sired 4-year-old and up pacers raced on the undercard in the $50,000 Myron Charna President's Pace, and Sectionline Bigry (Tyler Smith) swung out two-wide from the pocket coming off the last turn and wore down leader Bllack Hole in the closing moments to tally by a neck in 1:49 2/5. Dancin Dragon (Zeron) was the third-place finisher.

Steve Bauder trains Sectionline Bigry, a 5-year-old Pet Rock gelding, for owner/breeder Harold Bauder. Sectionline Bigry made his 27th stop in the winner's circle, and he has now put away $458,777. He was the 5-2 second choice and returned $7.00 to win.