Stellar field drawn for Saturday’s Battle of Lake Erie

The Battle of Lake Erie, the longest running stakes event to be conducted at MGM Northfield Park, has once again attracted a star-studded cast for its 2021 edition. The $200,000 event, which is carded as the 10th race on Saturday (June 5), features a competitive field of the sport’s best open pacers with a combined 287 victories.

This Is The Plan drew post three and has been named the 2-1 morning line favorite by MGM Northfield Park director of racing operations Dave Bianconi. He attracts national driving star Yannick Gingras and is conditioned by harness racing’s leading trainer, Ron Burke. This Is The Plan won the $514,000 Borgata Series Final at Yonkers on April 19 and is the top-earning horse in harness racing in 2021 with over $349,000 in purses. The 6-year-old has amassed a career bankroll of over $2.1 million and headlines the stacked field of nine – seven of whom enter the Battle off a win in their last start. This Is The Plan was second in his last outing in Sunday’s $100,000 Commodore Barry at Harrah’s Philadelphia.

Western Joe, the other entrant entering this event off a loss, finishing third in the $100,000 Commodore Barry, is the 7-2 second choice on the morning line. The East Coast stalwart drew the rail for trainer Christopher Choate, who listed North America’s and Northfield’s leading driver, Aaron Merriman. Western Joe has earned over $800,000 and is tied for the fastest mark in the race of 1:47.3.

Stars Align A drew post four and is the 4-1 third choice. Stars Align A is an Australian import who has two straight successes entering Saturday’s feature, including a 1:48 romp at The Meadowlands. Driver Joe Bongiorno is named to drive by his sister, Jennifer, who conditions the 8-year-old. The sibling combination teamed up to win the 2019 edition of the Battle with another Australian import, None Bettor A. That 2019 race is the most recent edition of this event due to a cancellation last year during the coronavirus pandemic.