The highlights for the Friday, Sept. 1 card of harness racing at Northville Downs included four-year-old trotting gelding Saulsgood with driver Jason Merriman winning the Open Trot and Hired Luck with driver/trainer Tyler Miller snagging the Mares Open Pace.
In the sixth race, the $9,500 Open Trot, early leader Stoneborough and Bart Stimer dictated the early fractions of :28.2, :58 and 1:27.2 to three-quarters before tiring to fourth. Saulsgood came up the pegs following a pocket ride to win in a final clocking of 1:57.4 by a widening 2-1/4 lengths over runner-up Celebrity Pegasus (Kim Pluta) and third place finisher Crypto Currency (Art McIlmurray). The win was number 20 of Saulsgood’s career. Saulsgood (Crescent Fashion – Simply Patty) is owned by E C S Racing and trained by Kevin St. Charles.
The $9,500 Mares Open followed. Coqui Coqui (Justin Irvine) grabbed the early lead and set the fractions to three-quarters of :27, :56 and 1:24.4 before tiring to fifth. Hired Luck, who was ninth at the three-quarters, circled the field as she did in her previous start to get up to win by 1-3/4 lengths in a final clocking of 1:55. Cruisin Thru Time and Kody Massey closed well for second while Shes Cruising Home and Drew Neill settled for third. Hired Luck (Tellitlikeitis – Lady Luck Killean) is owned by Greenhorn Racing; it was the first win for the new connections, and Hired Luck’s 21st career win.
Drew Neill and Lindsay Moen had driving doubles on the night. Trainer Paul Cloer Jr. had a training double. Driver Jason Merriman picked up career win 2,997 in the above-mentioned sixth race and is now just three away from the 3,000-win career milestone.
Racing at The Ville resumes Saturday, Sept. 2 at 7 p.m. and features a 10-race program. Northville Downs races every Friday and Saturday night until Sept. 30 with a 7 p.m. post time.
(Northville Downs)