Northfield: Track record performance by Downbytheseaside in Carl Milstein Memorial

Downbytheseaside did it the hard way, and for the first time in 2017 got the better of stablemate and heavily-favored Fear The Dragon to capture the $300,000 Carl Milstein Memorial Saturday night at Northfield Park.

Downbytheseaside, driven by Brian Sears, got away slickly in fourth after leaving the gate from post seven as Classic Pro and Trevor Henry took immediate control once the gate opened. Fear The Dragon, the 1-5 choice for David Miller, a winner in nine of his previous 10 starts this year, regained the front and got the quarter in a rated 27 1/5. By the half Miller appeared to have the race the way he wanted it with a soft 56 second half-mile clocking.

Driver Brian Sears was on the move well before the half, and he put Downbytheseaside in high gear. He quickly caught his stablemate's attention as the pace quickened in a major way down the backstretch. The third quarter was blitzed in 26 4/5 with the two on virtually even terms and the favorite under a serious threat.

The two matched strides through the final turn, but it was the first-over Downbytheseaside wearing down the heavy favorite towards the wire with an eye-catching 1:49 3/5 victory, a track record mile. The final half of 53 3/5 was not enough to hold off the winner.

Brian Brown trains both the winner and runner-up Fear The Dragon. Early leader Classic Pro settled for third.

"Every time I called on him he responded," said Sears.

A 9-2 proposition, Downbytheseaside paid $11.60 in winning for the sixth time in his 10th start of the year for owners Country Club Acres, Joe Sbrocco, Richard Lombardo and Diamond Creek Racing.

It was a big bounce back for Downbytheseaside, who finished third while boxed in through the stretch in the Cane Pace a week ago at the Meadowlands.