Three new track records were established at Northville Downs at Barry Expo Center in Hastings, Mich. on Tuesday, Sept. 16.
Go Go Lyla Jane, driven by Kim Pluta, turned a perfect pocket trip into a track-record win. She sat behind favourite Racing Glory (David Lake), who led through :29.3, :59.2, and 1:28.3 fractions but tired in the stretch and made a break in stride. Go Go Lyla Jane inherited the lead and drew off to win by 2-1/4 lengths in a clocking of 1:56.4. Racing Glory crossed the line second but was lapped-on with Skyway Rockatop (John Moody) and placed third. The time bested the previous record for a four-year-old pacing mare, set by Pair Of Hardts on Sept. 2, by one-fifth of a second. It also tied the standard for an aged pacing distaff.
Go Go Lyla Jane ($14.60), a daughter of Rockin Amadeus-Rei To Go, is trained by Gerald Malady for John Turigliatto. She is 16-for-59 lifetime.
Earlier on the card, Pluta trained and drove freshman Ena Mega Delight ($2.80) to victory in the second race. Ena Mega Delight performed the give-and-go to take over past the quarter in :30, produced middle splits of 1:00.4 and 1:30.2, and cruised to a four-length victory in 2:00.3. Caitlins Sweetbride (Charles Taylor) was second, followed by Bunkerhill Lil (Ty Goodell). The 2:00.3 clocking dropped the previous record for a two-year-old pacing gelding by two seconds.
Ena Mega Delight, a son of Megatron-Angel From Above, is now six-for-11 for owner Kathy Todd.
In the next race, Randall Howey T became the first aged trotting stallion to win at the new Northville Downs, thereby setting the record in 2:05.3. Olivia Turner rated him to :31, 1:02.4, and 1:34.1 fractions up front en route to a three-quarter-length victory over Twmz One (Timothy Murdock). Heres Lilly (Taylor) completed the ticket.
Orrin Turner owns and trains the eight-year-old son of Heres Johnny-Baked Azalea. Randall Howey T is now 13-for-78 lifetime.
Pluta led all drivers on the day with two wins.
Racing resumes on Wednesday at Northville Downs with a first-race post time of 1 p.m.
(With files from Northville Downs)