$430,000 Michigan Sire Stakes champions crowned

NORTHVILLE, MI – It Was Alla Dream was the only 2020 Michigan Sire Stakes champion to repeat in 2021, winning her $53,875 event for 3-year-old harness racing trotting fillies on Saturday night (Sept. 25) at Northville Downs. The weekend featured eight Michigan Sire Stakes finals — all contested as non-wagering events — with combined purses in excess of $430,000.

The daughter of Feel Like A Winner and Cranberrysdream controlled easy fractions of :31.2, 1:03.4 and 1:35.1 before accelerating home in :29.4 to beat Susie Kan Due in 2:05. Kim Pluta drove the 11-time winner for trainer Tim Roach, who shares ownership with Willa Rousseau.

It Was Alla Dream completed a Michigan Sire Stakes hat trick for Roach, who won the $57,531 event for 2-year-old trotting fillies with Tell Me Your Dream (2:05) and the $55,031 event for 2-year-old pacing colts and geldings with Thorn Toad (1:59) on Friday evening (Sept. 24).

Tell Me Your Dream, whom Roach drove and also owns with Paul Rousseau, sprinted 3-1/2 lengths clear of Bigfoot Donna to post her second win of the season; while Thorn Toad, also driven by Roach, rode the pocket until the top of the stretch before eclipsing pacesetter RB by three lengths to break his maiden.

Pluta completed a stakes driving double on the weekend with his own trainee Arizona Griz (2:07.3), a 7-3/4-length winner in the $56,031 2-year-old male trot for owner Kathy Todd.

Justin Irvine likewise recorded two wins, teaming Your Momma (1:59) to victory for trainer Art McIlmurray in the $53,375 3-year-old filly pace and Baba (2:05.2) to a gritty first-over score for Kevin St. Charles in the $54,375 3-year-old male trot.

Catch This Camero (2:01.4, Charles Taylor) and Major Thorn (2:02.2, Rick Dobson) rounded out the octet of stakes winners, taking the $55,031 rookie filly pace and $54,375 sophomore male pace, respectively.

In the Friday overnight feature, an $8,800 Fillies and Mares Open, Princess Rockette ($29.80) overcame post eight and withstood a first-over grind to wear down 7-5 pacesetter Vow To Wow before evading runner-up Better Days Ahead by 1-1/2 lengths at the end of a 1:56.1 mile. Kim Pluta drove the 4-year-old daughter of Pet Rock for owner-trainer-breeder George Hensley Jr.

Saturday’s pari-mutuel action was headlined by a pair of $8,800 Open events for pacers. Lying In Cash ($2.80) earned his second win in as many tries at the Northville fall meet, parrying a sustained challenge from Diesel Accelerator to win by a widening three lengths in 1:55.1.

Don Harmon drove the 5-year-old Aracache Hanover gelding for trainer Scott Galloway and owner-breeder Techia Lohmann.

Princess Rougarou ($6.00) beat the boys in the other division, rating a :56.4 half before sprinting clear up the backstretch en route to a 1:55 score over Oh K Man. Justin Irvine drove the 6-year-old Big Bad John mare for trainer Will Johnson, who shares ownership with breeder George Hensley Jr.

Racing returns to Northville on Friday (Oct. 1), with the first of 11 races scheduled for 7:30 p.m.

For full race results, click here.

From the Michigan Harness Horsemen’s Association