Northville Downs opens with $428,000 Finals

Northville Downs in Northville, Michigan opened for the harness racing season Friday evening (Sept. 9) and to kick-off opening night with a bang they featured the $428,000 Michigan Sire Stakes Finals for two-year-old pacers and trotters.

Both the two-year-old filly and colt pace divisions were early, non-wagering races due to short fields.

The $111,918 filly pace division saw Grey Lingerie (Western Thorn) and driver Rick Dobson went right to the lead, cut fractions of :28.4, :58.4 and 1:30, holding the field at bay throughout and went on to win by two and three-quarter lengths in 2:02.4. Blazingmachine (Ryan Ver Hage) was second with Nina Quit Smokin (Tim Roach) third.

It was a lifetime mark and the fourth straight win for Grey Lingerie. She now has five wins in seven starts for trainer Monica Krist and owners Teresa Marotta, Rick Dobson and Melissa Kesler.

In the $110,118 pacing colt division it all belonged to undefeated Two Birds Onestone (Black Daniels) and driver Carl Putnam, Jr. as they cut fractions of :30, 1:00.3 and 1:30.2 before rolling to a three and one-quarter length triumph in 1:59.3.

He’s A Knockout (Art Mc Ilmurray) sat the pocket-trip and finished second with Haste Make Waste (Tim Roach) third.

For Two Birds Onestone it was a lifetime mark, he is perfect in 2022 with 8 wins in eight starts. Two Birds Onestone is trained and owned by Carl Putnam, Jr.

For the start of the pari-mutuel card Friday evening, fans were treated to the first race being the $92,094 Michigan Sire Stakes Final for two-year-old trotting fillies.

It was the race favorite Johnny May Cruz (Aaron Colley) going to the early lead with Krystals Jewel (John Moody) grabbing the two-hole spot and Blue Rose Davine (Scott Altizer) stuck first-over in third to the first quarter in :29.3.

Johnny May Cruz continued to lead past the half mile in 1:01.1 with Ecs Aunt Tillie (Art Mc Ilmurray), who broke stride and regrouped at the quarter, starting up on the outside and giving cover to Cody’s Deal (Do The Deal) and driver Kim Pluta.

Then with a burst of speed in the backstretch, Cody’s Deal and Pluta cleared to the lead by a length at the three-quarters in 1:31.4. Cody’s Deal then was able to lead the rest of the mile, holding off Krystals Jewel by a half length in 2:02.2. Miss Sparty Mar (Skip De Mull) was third.

It was a lifetime mark for Cody’s Deal and her fourth win this season. She is trained by Jim Pluta for owner Kathy Todd of Ohio and paid $12.80 to win.

Then for the second half of the daily double, the second race was the $113,918 Michigan Sire Stakes Final for two-year-old trotting colts.

Chapter Twenty One (Fitzmagic) and driver Tim Driver were able to go right to the front and never looked back. They cut fractions of :31.2, 1:03.4 and 1:35.3 before pulling away in the stretch to win in a romp by four and three-quarter lengths in 2:07.1.

Smash The Rail (Scott Altizer) broke stride early and rallied to get into second place by the three-quarters and held for second. Paragon Sketter (Phil Peden) was third.

Race favorite Timeout Fritz (Charles Taylor) got away in third, but then broke stride after the half mile.

It was a lifetime mark for Chapter Twenty One and his fifth win this year for trainer-owner Tim Driver. He paid $5.20 to win.

For complete race results, click here.

by Steve Wolf, for Harnesslink