Merriman off his drives after getting parked in NFLD 11th

[Horseradish]

Anybody know why ??  He got shut out of a hole with Caviar Gold by some guy named Drew Neill, and the following races he's off his scheduled drives. Wondering if he went after him in the paddock and got sent home.

[Miguel_Sanchez]

Aaron Merriman couldn't fight his way out of a wet paper bag.  Highly doubtful he went after anyone.  He would laugh at you before he swung on you.

[Mailbox Money]

You can bet the carrot top chihuahua was yippin! Wrenn is now far more superior than Awad! The go Gung ho style only works when the horse that you're driving is the best in the race. I'd give good money to see what transpired in the Paddock after the park job. If there was an altercation,Carrot top used his whip or helmet and not his hands. 

[Jctoronto]

Thought I just watched Merriman aboard Blue Ivy in the 15th

[rainman2]

Thought I just watched Merriman aboard Blue Ivy in the 15th

Ah, another horse mentioned on horseplop quite a bit.  Interesting

[Jctoronto]

Merriman booked off two races..the 12th and 14th..Hall on both
But raced the Courageous Lady 13th and the FM Open behind Blue Ivy in 15th.

Now that is a strange hr and a half.

will watch the Drew Neill /A Merriman on track 'concern' --apparently Drew N didnt get a pre-race 'note'

[SeattleSlew]

Merriman booked off two races..the 12th and 14th..Hall on both
But raced the Courageous Lady 13th and the FM Open behind Blue Ivy in 15th.

Now that is a strange hr and a half.

will watch the Drew Neill /A Merriman on track 'concern' --apparently Drew N didnt get a pre-race 'note'

If he took himself off in the 14th...he handed Hall the winner of an $85,000 race...over $2,000 commission.

Even if he was upset about Neill closing the hole on him he wasn't going to win that race anyway.  He got 3rd and might have gotten 2nd with a better trip.

[Jctoronto]

A WILD LAST 90 MINS AT NORTHFIELD SAT NIGHT

R11
No doubt rail Drew Neill 'didnt play nice' in the 11th with his 40-1 railer Bamboo. had that 'closed the hole vs #8 Merriman' look to it,,hmm. no choice,hung early, Merriman drove on.
And with #8 Caviar Gold 7-2 form, I think Merriman was 'expecting' a better check, a 2nd most likely, for the trainer/owner Beaver etc... but he ended race with a 'gutted out third'. Neill didnt let him in,,big money race, lesser light, does he have to?  hmmm.
anyway, that appears to possibly be the issue, and im guessing.

R12 Regardless, something happened after that 11th race, because there was a lengthy delay before the start of the 85,000 12th (the S Bigry over Charlie May heavyweight event) when, Tony Hall became a late announcement onto the Merriman-scheduled horse Odds On Shaggy, who got a 5th for Virgil Morgan.

R13 Merriman returns, back on for the 100,000 Courageous Lady (dead heat battle between Zanatta and Zeron's now-retired Ucandoit Blue Chip). A Merr gets nothing with longshot #3 Tarpasta, who finished 6th.

then the interesting one..R14,,
i believe, and I could be wrong, when Tony Hall agreed to 12th race late pinch-hit assignment for A Merr, Merriman may have 'handed him' a 'gesture of $$thanks' and the reigns to the winner of the $85,000 14th and Danny Collins' Martys Magic Moment. Yes, MMM wins the 14th, and indeed a 2,000 driving commission to Hall for the victory. Is it possible Merriman was still available to drive, but possibly 'thanked' Hall for the late 12th race jump in, with a nice check (or at least part of it) for his trouble (especially since Hall was scheduled to go home after the 13th race). When T Smith broke with Sires Stake big fave Refined, the door opened wide.

R15 to close out card, Merriman returns to drive Blue Ivy in the 22,000 FM Open..a competitive drive but gets nothing, as Scott Zeron, whos still around 40 minutes after his dead heat Courageous Lady win, brings Bill Rhoades'/Canada ownership M T-owned  Fairies Delight A in at 5-1

....will A Merriman get a fine, a vacation-connected suspension, or a wrist slap for alleged kerfufle with Canada Maritimes' Drew Neill..and did he 'treat' t. hall well for sticking around? stay tuned, maybe well find out.

[HarnessFan1981]

Northfield Park posted changes on Twitter/X at 5:07

Race 14 #2 Tony Hall

[EddieZ]

Give Drew credit for having a pair of balls, Aaron parked him October 10th race 6 at Northfield.a little payback

[racing123]

good for drew neill

[theokodjak26]

I don’t know Merriman at all. However it amazes me that he has the stamina to constantly drive back and for between Northfield and the Meadows and sometimes Scioto. I know he winds up earning a lot of income each year but how does he physically hold up and still perform at a high level? Does anyone know him personally that can chime in here?

[kingthermo]

Not sure if he has a license to operate motor vehicles.
Might have a chauffeur

[Jctoronto]

EDDIE Z says 5.07p Hall for Merriman driver change announced for race 14.
I stand corrected then on that suggestion....cou ld just be that A Merriman wanted to chat it up with a couple of out of town connections who were part of race 13 feature.  Need time to do that.
Hall thus right place right time with t smith breaking the big horse in #14
***
Drew Neill 'revenge' from oct 10 race 6 very plausible..the smaller the operation the more focused on the good moments and the bad.
**

Maybe best sun 1030a question..how many of the drivers trainers might make trip cross town to the browns 49ers game? And laying down money as well. +9.5. No qb, rb, ort vs. 49ers maybe taking these guys lightly.....backs tretch will share all the nfl early game betting tales later before 6pm race 1 northfield. Tonight. 

[HornbyDuke]

I give merriman all credit in world. Super hard worker. Seems to keep his nose clean in what at times can be a rotten business. Go get um aaron.