Eleven-year-old trotter Celebrity Pegasus took down the co-featured $9,5000 Open on Friday night (Aug. 18) at Northville Downs with driver Kim Pluta in 1:58.2 for his 50th career victory.
In an Open Trot that had four of the nine competitors break stride throughout the mile, Celebrity Pegasus, who got away safely in third from his second tier starting position, stalked early leaders Some More Prince and Swan Leader to three-quarters. Pluta sensed that Some More Prince was starting to tire so he guided his charge outside for clear sailing and opened up in the stretch to win by a length over Swan Leader and a fast-closing Bo Nanza Chip.
Celebrity Pegasus is currently owned by Joshua Graber and trained by Samuel Eicher. The Andover Hall-Celebrity Athena stallion has earned more than $500,000 during his career spanning 203 starts.
Hired Luck made her Northville Downs debut a winning one in the co-featured Open Pace for mares in 1:55.2 with driver Marc St. Louis Jr.
The Mares Open Pace had Juxta Cowgirl, who was riding a three-race win streak, on the early lead with David Lake while Hired Luck got away seventh from her second tier starting position only to move to a second-over position going to the half behind a first-up She The North. As the field headed to three-quarters, Juxta Cowgirl started to tire and St. Louis waited no longer, tipping Hired Luck three-wide to three-quarters and she stormed home in the stretch to win easily by a widening 4-1/2-length victory. Cousin Margie got up to place while Princesa Alta stormed home for the show dough.
Hired Luck, a daughter of Tellitlikeitis- Lady Luck Killean, is owned by Stacey Currie and trained by Danielle St. Louis. The win was the six-year-old mare’s 20th lifetime.
Drew Neill had a driving hat trick while Kody Massey had a driving double on the evening.
Racing at The Ville resumes on Saturday, Aug. 19 at 7 p.m. and features a 13-race program. Southwind Amazon will seek to earn career win number 128 at the Michigan oval which would put the 13-year-old into a tie for second all-time with Rambling Willie on the winningest Standardbreds list. Starting from post position six in an eight-horse field, Southwind Amazon will attempt to earn the victory in an effort to work towards taking over the top spot on the list currently held by Niffit with 137 wins.
(With files from Northville Downs; Photo of Celebrity Pegasus winning earlier this year)