Diamond Hunter ($3.20) remained undefeated in two seasonal starts with an impressive 1:59 win Saturday night in Northfield Park’s $5,500 Open Handicap Trot.
Assigned the outside post seven, Ryan Stahl left quickly with the 4-year-old Fortune Five Hundred gelding, but was unable to wrest the lead from Lucca’s Revenge and settled in third as the field hit the quarter in :29.1. Stahl pulled the Jeff Cox trainee at the three-eighths and battled the leader to the :59.3 half, taking charge just after that mark. World champion Dunkster mounted his bid from the back of the pack, but Diamond Hunter held him safe to get the win. Hello Carlo closed well to finish third. Diamond Hunter has now earned $77,081 for his owners, trainer Cox, Sherree Cox and Richard McNutt.
Stahl gave Dontgetintheway ($6) a nearly identical trip in the $6,000 Open Handicap Pace, as he took both features. Leaving from post eight, he again found a three hole and moved before the half to challenge leader Whatanartist, who clocked a :27.4 opening panel and a 57-second half. Dontgetintheway began to take control at the 1:25.3 three-quarter call and drew off from there. Up Front Guy was second, foiling Dan Charlino’s bid for three straight driving wins, and Category Six finished third. Dontgetintheway is a 5-year-old brown gelded son of Dontgetinmyway. Ryan Angus traisn for New Jersey owner Kelly Lancaster. He stopped the timer in 1:55. (Northfield Park)
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