The $9,500 Open Pace highlighted the Saturday night, Oct. 28 program at Northville Downs with Lyons Friends and driver Kody Massey upsetting the betting favourite, Southwind Amazon, in 1:55.1.
Lyons Friends and Massey left hard for the early lead as Coalford Bythesea and Justin Irvine left as well. The pair tripped the beam to the quarter in :26.3 as Coalford Bythesea crossed over and took the lead. They went to the half in :55.3 as favourite Southwind Amazon and Drew Neill went first-up.
As the field went to the backstretch, Southwind Amazon cleared to the lead. Something went awry with Coalford Bythesea, who slowed down abruptly and was forced to leave the course. That allowed Lyons Friends to slide off the pegs and take a shot at Southwind Amazon past three-quarters in 1:25.1. Southwind Amazon gave little resistance and Lyons Friends squirted away by five lengths in the stretch and held off a hard-charging Catch Me Conrad and Lindsay Moen to win by a length and a half at the end. Southwind Amazon finished third.
For Lyons Friends, the win was the 23rd of his career and he returned $9.20 to his backers as the 7-2 second choice. The six-year-old Western Ideal-Artistic Vision gelding is owned by trainer Elizabeth Tolley and David Tolley.
Drew Neill had a driving hat trick on the night and Marc St Louis Jr. had a driving double.
Northville Downs resumes racing on Friday, Nov. 3 with a first post time of 7 p.m. Friday is dollar night at The Ville with $1 pop, live programs and popcorn, $2 hot dogs and beer and hamburger and cheeseburger specials.
(With files from Northville Downs)
Southwind Amazon
Southwind Amazon still needs 8 more wins by the end of 2024 (provided that he races next year at age 14) to surpass Niffit and become the winningest horse in modern day harness racing.