Northfield Park: Looking For Zelda smashes track record

Looking For Zelda is now the track record holder for a 3-year-old filly trotter at Northfield Park after she won the first of a pair of $50,000 Ohio Sires Stakes sections Monday evening in 1:54 flat, lowering the previous mark by four-fifths of a second.

Driven by Tony Hall, Looking For Zelda launched to the lead from post six and was unchallenged through fractions of 27 3/5, 56 1/5, and 1:25. She then used a 29 flat final kicker to step away from pocket-sitter Risky Deal (Don Irvine Jr.) and to score by 2 3/4 lengths. Count On Rosey (Kurt Sugg) finished third.

The previous track record of 1:54 4/5 belonged to both Sturdy Lori (2002) and Gabbysloosechange (2017). It was also the second track record Looking For Zelda has broken this year as she did the same thing at Scioto Downs in Ohio Sires Stakes competition on July 13.

Norm Parker trains Looking For Zelda, a daughter of Break The Bank K, for owner/breeder Robert Key. This was her 11th career victory, she boosted her earnings to $332,694, and she paid $8.00 to win as the 3-1 second choice.

The other Ohio Sires Stakes clash went to Spunky Bottom Girl and driver Tyler Smith in 1:54 2/5. Spunky Bottom Girl advanced into the lead just past the 28 2/5 opening quarter, and she would continue to front the field to the half in 57 3/5 and the three-quarters in 1:25 3/5. Spunky Bottom Girl put away a first-over bid from Impinktoo (Kayne Kauffman) past three-quarters, but race favorite Sesame (Aaron Merriman) had dead-aim at the leader in the passing lane through the stretch. Spunky Bottom Girl dug in, though, repelling that surge and prevailing by a quarter of a length in 1:54 2/5. Impinktoo came in third.

The victorious My MVP filly is trained by Brent Davis for owner/breeder Ed Teefey. Spunky Bottom Girl is now a five-time winner in her lifetime, and she has now banked $93,683. She was sent off at 7-2 and returned $9.20 to win.