R Cowboy rounds up winner at Northfield

With temperatures in the upper 50s, the racing action was nearly as hot as the weather at Northfield Park on Saturday.

In the $6,000 Open Trot, Athlete In Action appeared home free after a leisurely 1:01 half that saw Classical Man make a break and the other top choice American Tribute have issues in the turn, but R Cowboy and Matt Kakaley got underway late to collar the leader in a 2:02 mile over a yielding track rated "good."

Titus Schlaback owns and trains the winner, a 9-year-old Balanced Image gelding, who won for just the second time this year, but for the 38th time in his career. He has now banked $229,155. Athlete In Action was second, while former world champion Blastaway Sahbra got the show money.

The win gave the 20-year old Kakaley his third win of the night, through just nine races.

With the nearly unbeatable Lite Me Up taking a week off, the $6,000 Open Pace looked wide open and it did not disappoint, as there were five lead changes in the mile before 13-1 newcomer State Of The Union emerged victorious.

Lakeside Al took the first call, only to be supplanted by Dan Chaz and then Expresso Forte took charge. Lakeside Al rallied again to take the lead, with State Of The Union following as Dan Chaz also found room to the outside.

State Of The Union got by Lakeside Al in early stretch. Aaron Merriman drove the winner, a 5-year-old Presidential Ball gelding, for trainer Jodi Schillaci and owner Mihajlo Zdjelar Jr. The win was his fourth of the year, as he pushed his career earnings to $88,941. (Northfield Park)

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