Northfield: Wish You Well headlines Milstein; Odds On Platinum leads Courageous Lady

Wish You Well, a runner-up in the Delvin Miller Adios at The Meadows, has been installed as the 5/2 morning-line favorite and leads a competitive field in Saturday’s (August 10) $300,000 Carl Milstein Memorial at MGM Northfield Park.

The Carl Milstein Memorial, an invitational for 3-year-old pacers, is always one of the staples on the stakes calendar each year.

“This year’s Milstein is a wide-open race, with horses from all over North America. The $300,000 event, in addition to the power-packed undercard, will make for a great night of racing,” said Director of Racing Dave Bianconi.

After a slow start to his sophomore campaign, Wish You Well entered the $350,000 Adios off a victory at Harrah’s Philadelphia, and a dominant 1:49 1/5 score in the $25,000 elimination. In the final, the son of Bettor’s Wish had a big late kick but ran out of racetrack, missing by a neck to Captain Albano in 1:49 2/5.

Wish You Well is owned by Kovach Stables, LLC and is trained by Nifty Norman.

“He has had an easy week at The Meadows. We are thrilled with the post draw,” said Norman. “He trains on a half and raced in the Messenger earlier this year, he doesn’t mind it at all.”

Lightly raced at age 2, Indiana standout Sabonis will take on Grand Circuit company for the first time in Saturday’s Carl Milstein Memorial. The 3-year-old son by Tellitlikeitis enters on a seven-race win streak, and sports 10 victories in 11 starts this year for owner Pat Miller and trainer Aaron Stutzman.

“He matured a lot from his 2- to 3-year-old season. Last year wasn’t his year, he was a little immature,” said Stutzman. “He has surprised all of us with how good he has been this year. The races he has been in at Hoosier have been tough.”

The talented colt started the year with a powerful 5-1/2 length victory in a non-winners-of-two final at Harrah’s Hoosier Park before tasting defeat for the first time. He returned to win another late closer, and no one has been close to him in Indiana Sire Stakes company. It will be the first time Sabonis will race away from Harrah’s Hoosier Park, something his connections aren’t worried about.

“I guess we will find out how good he will be on a half,” said Stutzman. “He trains on a half and I don’t expect any surprises.”

Also competing in Saturday’s Grand Circuit event is Stable.ca standout Timeisonmyside, Ohio-sired Rose Run Zane, Ohio State Fair runner-up Janelle Granny, Ontario Sires Stakes standout Storm Shadow, MGM Messenger winner Sweet Beach Life, Ohio-sired Paris’s Dragon, and Indiana-Sired Noblesville.

Odds On Platinum headlines $100,000 Courageous Lady Stakes

Historically hosted in October, the Courageous Lady Stakes will move to the undercard of the Carl Milstein Memorial in 2024 due to the addition of Ohio Super Night in October. The 2023 edition featured the Home of the Flying Turns’ first dead-heat in a Grand Circuit Event, with Ucandoit Blue Chip and Zanatta hitting the wire together.

Odds On Platinum will ship-in from Canada on Saturday for trainer Dr. Ian Moore looking to continue her winning ways. A runner-up in the $219,000 Ontario Super Final as a 2-year-old, the daughter of Bettor’s Delight has shown a lot of ability against Grand Circuit company. Her connections are pleased with the draw and look forward to seeing her compete against top talent again.

“She has really turned into a good filly. The draw hasn’t been kind to her lately, but we are thankful she can leave the gate well,” said Moore. “I picked her out as a yearling. Our entire team has enjoyed working with her.”

Trainer Linda Toscano will try to repeat in the Courageous Lady with a daughter of Stay Hungry, Sarasota Hanover. She won a division of the Bluegrass in Lexington as a 2-year-old and won a division of the Kindergarten at the Meadowlands before finishing a strong fourth in the $376,000 Three Diamonds Final at The Meadowlands.

She is also the fastest sophomore filly pacer in North America in 2024, with a dazzling 1:48 1/5 victory in May at The Meadowlands.

The talented filly looks to return to her winning ways on Saturday against Fearless Ginger, Genetic Edge, Gone Coastal, Wasted On You, Soft Shot, Seaside Diva, and Flyin Bullets.

Saturday’s Carl Milstein Memorial program will get underway at 6 p.m. and feature a $25,000 guaranteed $1 Pick-4 beginning in race eight, with a $10,000 guaranteed $1 Pick-4 beginning in race 11, and a $10,000 guaranteed 20-cent Super Hi-5 in race 13.

For more information on racing, news, or promotions, visit www.northfieldpark.com.

-edited release (Michael Carter for MGM Northfield Park)