After taking top honours in Michigan Sire Stakes as freshmen in 2018, Mattys Legacy and Gemini Eddie successfully defended their titles as three-year-olds in the $230,000 Michigan Sire Stakes at Northville Downs on Tuesday, Aug. 13.
Mattys Legacy recorded a pillar-to-post 1:58.4 win over four rivals in the $29,210 three-year-old colt and gelding pace. Driver Rick Dobson sent the son of Keystone Rodeo clear early to control fractions of :29.2, :59.2 and 1:28.2, amassing a four-length lead over Bilbo Bobbins on the final turn. Upon cornering for home, Bilbo Bobbins closed steadily, but Mattys Legacy had enough to outlast him by a half length. Totally Innocent finished a distant third.
Monica Krist owns and trains Mattys Legacy, now a 13-time winner in his career.
Gemini Eddie proved a more convincing winner in the $29,460 event for three-year-old trotting colts and geldings. Urged clear by Art McIlmurray, the son of Southwind Russet seized command from Stanwood past a :31 quarter and drew clear steadily from there. He built an eight-and-a-quarter length advantage over mildly-rallying Safe And Sound to win in 2:01.2 while Stanwood faded to third.
Kevin St. Charles trains 11-time winner Gemini Eddie for E C S Racing LLC.
Progeny of Manhardt—two of them bred by Libby Myers—captured the other three Michigan Sire Stakes pacing finals. Vicious Circle (Brad Kramer, 1:59) captured the $29,710 two-year-old filly pace leading every step, while Lady Medusa (Larry Lee Smith, 1:59.2) sustained a first-over grind to take the $29,960 three-year-old filly pace to complete Myers' breeding double. Oscar Sievert homebred Gabe The Babe (Taylor, 1:59.3) was the other victorious offspring of Manhardt, coasting to a five-and-three-quarter lengths win in the $30,460 freshman colt and gelding pace.
Driver Carl Putnam Jr. captured a pair of trotting events, doing so with offspring of Colies. Suzygottanewheart (2:09.3) won the $29,710 event for two-year-old colts and geldings by a widening 11 lengths—the largest winning margin of the afternoon—and You Go Girlygirl (2:06.1), who overcame an early break to win the $28,960 event for three-year-old fillies.
Come On Loretta (2:06.4) completed the octet of Sire Stakes winners, narrowly taking the $30,210 two-year-old filly trot. Breeder Tim Roach trains and drove the daughter of Crest, and he shares ownership with Larry Elvin.
(Michigan Harness Horsemen's Association)