Night Pro eclipsed $1 million in career earnings on Saturday night (Oct. 2), when he dug in gamely to defeat Normandy Beach in one of two $8,800 Open Paces at Northville Downs. Lying In Cash captured the other Open, his third in a row.
Night Pro, in line to owner/trainer Dale Decker, used the entire first turn to clear Beauty Desires (Justin Irvine) from post six — and was strung out to a :28 first quarter in doing so. Decker rated the veteran pacer through a :57.3 half before the pair worked to fend off a first-over challenge from Bluebird Pacific (Kody Massey) through a :29 third quarter. While Night Pro shrugged off Bluebird Pacific rather easily, his biggest threat came in the form of Normandy Beach — whom David Lake pointed three-wide into the final turn off failing second-over cover. Off the corner for home, Decker asked Night Pro for all he had, and the 11-year-old son of Pro Bono Best held off Normandy Beach's late charge by a neck in 1:55.4. Beauty Desires held third up the open stretch, missing by only a neck.
"He was still strong all the way down the backside," said Decker. "He doesn't get home like he did when he was younger, so there's always a concern someone will loop him. But I felt pretty good because he was still tight, and he got the job done."
Night Pro has amassed $1,003,384 in his 182 career starts, winning 71 of them and earning 58 minor placings — all for Decker, who manages his small stable in addition to a full-time career as a home builder. After early success on the Indiana Sires Stakes circuit, Night Pro earned most of his seven-figure bankroll "the hard way" — capturing Open and Invitational events all through the Midwest.
"The last $200,000 was tough — he kept getting older, and it kept getting tougher. It's great; he's a nice class horse. If a guy like Ron Burke had him, he'd probably have a lot more money on his card, but that's not why I'm in it. I enjoy doing it, and I'll keep at it as long as I can."
Decker indicated that Night Pro also stood stud in Indiana the past couple years, and is excited to see what his star performer's progeny will do in seasons to come.
"The exciting part now for me is that he's got a few yearlings out there, so hopefully you'll see some of his two-year-olds racing next year."
Night Pro paid $16.40 to win.
In the other Open, Lying In Cash overcame his assigned post eight to earn his third consecutive win against Michigan's best pacers.
Driven by Don Harmon, the five-year-old Aracache Hanover gelding circled three-wide on the first turn pushed clear of Ogradys First Man (Charles Taylor) through a :27.2 first quarter. He then repelled a sustained outside challenge from Catch Me Conrad (Jason Merriman) — who advanced out of fourth on the far turn to engage the favoured pacesetter — through middle splits of :56.2 and 1:25.2. After the two dueled noses apart up the backstretch, Lying In Cash put away his rival off the home turn, winning by 1-1/4 lengths while driven out in 1:54.3. Catch Me Conrad maintained second. Diesel Accelerator (Kim Pluta) finished third after stalking the dueling leaders from second-over.
Scott Galloway trains Lying In Cash, a five-time winner in 11 starts this season who paid $4.60 to win, for owner/breeder Techia Lohmann.
In Friday night's (Oct. 1) features, Danikova ($3.40) and Jason Merriman repelled Princess Rockette to win the Fillies and Mares Open in 1:55, while I Get It ($2.80) and owner/trainer/driver Bob Rowland battled after being headed by Hail Caesar up the backstretch to win the Open Trot by a widening 3-1/4 lengths in 1:57.4. Merriman led all drivers with four wins on the card.
Racing returns to Northville Downs on Friday evening (Oct. 8); post time is 7:30 p.m. EDT.
(Michigan Harness Horsemen's Association)