The six-year-old daughter of Sportswriter, Coqui Coqui (named after a species of a Puerto Rican frog), leapt from the pocket in the lane to get up for the victory in the co-featured $10,800 Mares Open Pace on Friday, May 26 at Northville Downs.
From post position three, driver Justin Irvine and Coqui Coqui (pictured above) shot to the lead in the opening turn, but faced immediate pressure from Princess Rougarou and driver Jason Merriman. After a couple of lead changes between the two teams, Princess Rougarou dictated the fractions in :27.1, :56.4 and 1:26.1 until the stretch when Coqui Coqui stormed by to get up for a neck victory in 1:55.4. Princess Rougarou settled second and Shes Cruising Home was third.
The win was the 14th of Coqui Coqui’s career. She is trained by Gerald Malady and owned by John Turgliatto.
In the second co-featured event, the $10,800 Open Trot, Travlin Swan and trainer/driver Art McIlmurray took over at the three-eighths pole and never looked back to win in 1:58 over closers Celebrity Pegasus (Kim Pluta) and I Get It (Bob Rowland).
For Travlin Swan, it was his 19th career victory. The seven-year-old Swan For All gelding is owned by Staci Malady.
McIlmurray had a driving triple on the program while Jason Merriman had a driving double. Merriman, who is the current leading driver at Northville, is now just 27 wins away from career driving win 3,000 following his double on the night.
Racing at Northville Downs resumes Saturday, May 27 at 7 p.m.
(With files from Northville Downs)