Konesky still winning at 78

Northfield, Ohio…Sept. 14, 2026…Stoney Ridgetop, enjoying a picture perfect journey from owner-trainer John Konesky III, took top honors in the Great Lakes Amateur Driving Association (GLADA) harness racing feature on Sunday night (Sept. 13) at Northfield Park.

The seven-year-old Wishing Stone gelding, lightly raced this semester, earned his second win in only five starts and scored a handy 1 1/2 length win in 1:58 over the pace-setting Mister Sweet, handled by Terry Di Cicco, who was two lengths clear of Manhattanup No Ice, with Edward Miller in the bike.

The favored Kandy Sweet was another half-length back in fourth, just a neck better than B Medithree and Joseph Kramp, who picked up the nickel.

Konesky, leaving from post two, was alert off the wings as Mister Sweet also left with alacrity and assumed control, opening up a 1 3/4 length lead at the quick :27.2 initial quarter with Kandy Sweet settling into third and Trump The Warrior next.

Positions remained unchanged through subsequent times of :57.4 and 1:27 with Stoney Ridgetop beginning to gnaw away at the leader at the top of the lane.

Choosing an outside route this night, Stoney Ridgetop easily blew by Mister Sweet for the handy win as the fastest closing Manhattan No Ice, dead last turning for home, rallied for third.

STONEY RIDGETOP REPLAY

In a post-race interview, driver John Konesky III said, “We bought this horse as a yearling for $17,000 and he’s always been a real consistent performer over the years and, tonight, the conditions were perfect for a good performance from him…and he delivered.

The win was the 38th in 80 career starts, vaulting his lifetime earnings over the $200,000 plateau, now at $200,799 for Konesky, who co-owns with Patrick Konesky.

John Konesky III, by the way, at 78-years-of-age, its enjoying his 50th season in harness racing and has 1,732 driving wins in 7,013 starts and has five seasons with a .500 (or plus) batting average—one over .600—11 more over .400 and only three seasons previously under .300.

Stoney Ridgetop returned $4.80 as the second choice in the wagering.

The GLADA club has long been a staunch advocate in bringing the sport of harness racing to the public through the club’s donation to local and national charitable causes, including retirement programs for retired standardbred horses in new careers of therapeutic for “children of all ages.”

For complete race results, click here: US Trotting results.

by John Berry, for GLADA