The $9,500 Open Pace highlighted the second day of Breeders' Cup weekend and the Saturday (Nov. 4) night program at Northville Downs with Freds Nightmare and driver Drew Neill storming home to win by 6-1/2 lengths in 1:54.1.
Executive Dash N (Don Harmon) and Coalford Bythesea (Justin Irvine) left hard for the early lead with Freds Nightmare settling into third. Neill made a quarter move to the lead and Freds Nightmare set fractions of :27.2, :56.3 and 1:25. He opened up on the field to win by open lengths and stop the timer in 1:54.1. Photo finish could not separate the pair of Executive Dash N and Southwind Amazon for place as they dead-heated.
Owned by Tactical Advantage Stable and trained by Becky Zubkoff, it was the 19th career win for the six-year-old gelding.
Driver Art McIlmurray had a driving hat trick on the card while Neill and Marc St. Louis, Jr. had doubles. Zubkoff had a training double.
Northville Downs resumes racing on Friday, Nov. 10 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; beer; and hamburger and cheeseburger specials.
Northville Downs races every Friday and Saturday night through Nov. 25 with a 7 p.m. post time.
(With files from Northville Downs)