Eddie Miller and Lonnie Graber won their respective $7,800 trotting events hosted by the Great Lakes Amateur Drivers Association on Saturday night (May 1) at MGM Northfield Park.
In the first split, Miller and Cowboy Country hugged the pylons from their back-row start to land in fifth while Curleys Son (Marion Chupp) and Shake It Off Lindy (Don Sherman) sparred for the lead through a :28 first quarter. At the halfway point, Curleys Son enjoyed a three-length lead, but had to brace for Cowboy Country, who angled out to challenge. Still, Curleys Son showed the way by the :57.4 half and 1:27.4 third stanza. But, when the field rounded the final turn, Cowboy Country asserted himself and went on to a 1-1/4-length win in 1:58.1 Curleys Son was an easy second, and Starsaboveallerage — who was parked the entire mile — finished third for Steve Oldford.
Cowboy Country, a six-year-old altered son of Break The Bank K, is trained by his driver for owners Rebecca Sugg and Steven Moss. He paid $13.60 to win. It was Miller's fifth driving victory in just 10 seasonal starts.
In the other division, Graber reined his first winner of the year — and the fourth of his career — when he guided 15-1 shot Time Outa Jail to a come-from-behind 1:58.3 victory.
A speed duel between Riverdancing Diva (Manny Miller) and Go Go George (Larry Ferrari) set the stage for the closers, namely Time Outa Jail, who used a three-wide move at three-quarters to rally from fifth for a 1-3/4-length score. Go Go George finished second, and Gonna Fly (Steve Oldford) was third.
Time Outa Jail, a 10-year-old Jailhouse Jesse gelding, is trained by Crist Hershberger for owners George and Rose Bonomo. He returned a $33.20 win mutuel.
(with files from GLADA)