Northfield: Smoking Jet takes flight in world record performance

Smoking Jet lowered the world record for an older gelding on a half-mile track when he clocked a 1:52 1/5 mile in Saturday night's $100,000 Tom Aldrich President's Trot at Northfield Park. In the companion $100,000 Myron Charna President's Pace, Charlie May won from first-up in 1:49 3/5. Both races are for Ohio-sired horses that are 4-year-olds and up.

MVP Luke (Billy Davis Jr.) led early in the Aldrich, but he broke stride on the first turn, leaving Smoking Jet (Ronnie Wrenn Jr.) on the engine. Smoking Jet chopped out fractions of 27 4/5, 55 4/5, and 1:23 2/5, then came home in 28 4/5 to stave off first-over favorite It's Academic (David Miller) by a length and a quarter. Herculisa (Brett Miller) took third.

The previous world record for an older gelding trotter on a half-mile track was 1:52 3/5, and Smoking Jet owned a share of that mark with Stormy Kromer (Yonkers) and Winning Shadow (Northfield).

"I really like this horse, and he likes this track. He fits it well," remarked Wrenn Jr.

Ron Burke trains Smoking Jet, a 5-year-old by Triumphant Caviar, for owners Burke Racing Stable LLC., Weaver Bruscemi LLC., and Chris Page. Smoking Jet won for the 20th time from 83 starts, has now pocketed $248,032, and returned $38.20 to win as an 18-1 shot.

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In the Charna, Heart Of Chewbacca (Dan Noble) went to the top and led at the 26 2/5 opening quarter, but Brett Miller sent Charlie May first-over out of fourth on the second turn. Heart Of Chewbacca managed to stave off Charlie May to the 55 second half and 1:21 4/5 three-quarters, but Charlie May wore him down after the latter marker and then drew clear in the stretch, defeating pocket-sitter One Last Laugh (Hunter Myers) by a length and three-quarters. Odds On Shaggy (Matt Kakaley) grabbed third.

"I was pretty confident coming into tonight's race. This horse, when he's sharp, he's dead game. First-up really doesn't bother him when he's sharp," said Brett Miller.

Charlie May is a 4-year-old McArdle gelding trained by Steve Carter for owner/breeder Don Tiger. Charlie May made his 21st appearance in the winner's circle, pushed his earnings to $1,371,485, and paid $3.00 to win as the 1-2 favorite.