Celebrity Pegasus, Passionate Deo score at Northfield

The 11-year-old trotting stallion Celebrity Pegasus (Andover Hall) and seven-year-old pacing mare Passionate Deo (Captaintreacherous) captured the harness racing co-featured $10,800 Open Trot and Mares Open Pace on Friday night (May 12) at Northville Downs in Michigan.

In the featured trot, Kim Pluta drove Celebrity Pegasus from off the pace to victory after early leaders Stoneborough (Bart Stimer) and Swan Leader (Charles Taylor) got tired off the fractions of :28, :58.2, and 1:27.3 through three-quarters. Celebrity Pegasus drove up three-wide to grab command down the lane to win by a length in 1:57.4 over Travlin Swan (Art McIlmurray) who closed up for second while Stoneborough settled for third.

CELEBRITY PEGASUS REPLAY

The victory for Celebrity Pegasus was career win number 48 and his purse earnings ticked up to $507,446. Celebrity Pegasus is owned by Joshua Graber and trained by Samuel Eicher.

The co-featured $10,800 Mares Open saw Passionate Deo and driver/trainer Tyler Miller fly off the car to grab the early lead and they never looked back, winning by a length in 1:54.3 (just three-fifths of a second off of the Aged Pacing Mares track record).

Princess Rockette and Lindsay Moen closed hard for second and Skyway Rockatop (David Lake) closed up for third. Miller and his charge set all the fractions (:26.4, :54.3, 1:23.3, 1:54.3) to capture the mare’s 23rd career win and pushed her lifetime earnings to $205,711. Passionate Deo is owned by Greenhorn Racing.

PASSIONATE DEO REPLAY

Three drivers doubled up on the night. Kody Massey, Kim Pluta and Jason Merriman took their respective driving doubles. Trainers Linda Main, Samuel Eicher and Paul Cloer, Jr all had training doubles on the program as well.

Racing at Northville Downs resumes Saturday, May 13th at 7pm.  Live racing continues every Friday and Saturday evening now through September 30th. For live racing dining reservations, be sure to call Northville Downs in advance at 248-924-2073.

For complete race results, click here.

by Ken Terpenning, for Northville Downs