Capella Star and Westwinds Pegasus soared to track-record performances in the same category in back-to-back races at Northville Downs at Barry Expo Center on Wednesday, Sept. 16.
The track record for four-year-old trotting mares was 2:02.4, established on opening day by Retta Estelle. It was lowered twice in less than an hour on Wednesday.
In the fifth race, over a drying and quickening surface, 74-year-old owner/trainer/driver Lavern Miller drove Capella Star (Big Rigs-Dreamy Secret) to a victory after sitting a three-hole trip behind the early leaders. Miller tipped Capella Star out in the stretch to go by and win by a widening 2-1/4-length margin in 2:01.2. Rose Run Vincent (David Lake) was second after setting the pace, with Dovernout (Ty Goodell) third. Capella Star is now 14-for-55 lifetime. She paid $16.60 to win.
In the next race, a different Miller, LeWayne, and his charge Westwinds Pegasus (Celebrity Pegasus-Keep The Cash) immediately broke that divisional record. Westwinds Pegasus, fifth early, closed to win by a neck in 2:00.4. Perlucky (Ty Goodell) just missed in second, followed by Magical Journey (Art McIlmurray). Westwinds Pegasus is trained, owned and was bred by Samuel Eicher. She took her 10th win in 19 career outings. The win price was $8.
Owner/trainer Judy Roegner won three races on the eight-dash program, all driven by Kody Massey. The pair won with two-year-old Captain Victorious-Here Comes Harlee gelding Herecomesralphie ($6.40), four-year-old Bettors Delight-Sure Do Love You gelding Wake Zone ($8) and five-year-old Enterprise-Luvyaformiles gelding Rankin ($2.60). Roegner's trainees are now a collective 15-for-47 this year for a 31.9 per cent win rate.
Massey captured his other win on the day by steering three-year-old Odds On Equuleus-Princess Dragon gelding O Tobe A Dragon ($4.80) to victory for trainer Charles Taylor and owner Dana Widmark.
Racing resumes at the Hastings, Mich. oval on Thursday with a 1 p.m. first post and eight races on tap.
(With files from Northville Downs; photo of Westwinds Pegasus winning on Sept. 16)