Classic Gent paced home for his 50th career harness racing victory, winning the thirteenth race at Northfield Park on Wednesday (September 25). The 9-year-old veteran, with 231 career starts, also has 28 seconds and 34 third-place finishes.
Classic Gent (Blissfull Hall-Northern Jade-Northern Luck) has career earnings of $477,629 with a lifetime mark of 1:51.2 at Woodbine Racetrack at age four. The gelding's richest win was also at Woodbine in a $36,360 stakes event in 2013. Classic Gent is a well-traveled campaigner — his 50 wins have been spread across 10 different racing surfaces.
Classic Gent started from the rail in the evening's $4,000 conditioned event. He virtually led the entire mile through fractions of :28.3, :58, 1:26 and 1:55, besting his closest competitor by 3-lengths. He was heavily favored in the race and returned $2.10 to win.
Rick Howles of Lake Orion, Michigan owns Classic Gent. Trainer Ryan Angus called upon leading driver Aaron Merriman to pilot.
by Ayres Ratliff, for Northfield Park