Princesa Alta and driver Marc St. Louis Jr. took a jaunt up the lightning lane and held off a fast-closing Artistic Cut to win the $9,500 Open Pace for mares in 1:58 on Friday night (Nov. 17) at Northville Downs.
When the wings of the Brownlee Gate Cam starting gate folded, Chase The Ace took the early lead from post one as Princesa Alta settled into the pocket. Danikova and Cousin Margie were parked out from the word 'go.' Chase The Ace set fractions of :27.4, :57.3 and 1:27.3 to three-quarters before tiring as Princesa Alta went into the stretch up the lightning lane and Artistic Cut went three-wide off tiring cover from way back. As they arrived at the finish line, the inland route prevailed for Princesa Alta, who held on to win by a length and a half over Artistic Cut as Always B Somewhere weaved through traffic to get the show dough.
The victory was the 12th of Princesa Alta’s career. The five-year-old Sweet Lou-Camille mare is trained by Mike DeRuntz for owner Salvatore Amato.
St. Louis had a driving hat trick on the night and David Lake had a double on the program.
Racing at The Ville resumes on Saturday, Nov. 18 at 7 p.m. with an 11-race program on the docket.
(With files from Northville Downs)