Track records continued to fall at Northville Downs at Barry Expo Center in Hastings, Mich. on Tuesday, Sept. 2, headlined by Peter The Con's $15,068 Open Handicap Trot victory.
Peter The Con was away fourth to the quarter in :29.2 for Ed Hennessey, then went first-up before the half in 1:00.2 and put his nose in front at three-quarters in 1:29.3. He finally cleared pacesetter Solar (Jennifer Main) entering the stretch, then held off a late charge by Holton (Kody Massey) to capture the afternoon’s co-featured event by three-quarters of a length in 1:59. Magical Journey (David Lake) was third. The time rewrote the track record for an aged trotting gelding, which was previously held by Holton. The winner also became the fastest aged trotter of all time at the Hastings oval.
Peter The Con ($12.40) is owned and trained by Sandra Hennessey. The five-year-old son of Uncle Peter-Jesses Con has won nine of 29 career outings and has earned $72,809.
In the other co-featured event, the $15,068 Fillies and Mares Open Handicap Pace, Ed and Sandra Hennessey struck again, winning with Lady With No Fear in an 8-1 upset. With Ed Hennessey in the bike, Lady With No Fear was third to the quarter in :29.2, then went on the march nearing the half in 1:00 and brushed to the lead. She flew through three-quarters in 1:27.4 and never looked back, winning by 1-3/4 lengths in 1:57.3 over Joyful Lady (Lake). Racing Glory (Massey) finished third.
Lady With No Fear has won 20 of her 72 career starts and has earned $189,858. The five-year-old daughter of Fear The Dragon-I Lady is co-owned by Sandra Hennessey and Paula Sugars. She paid $19.20 to win.
Also on the afternoon, Rankin ($12) set a new track record for a four-year-old trotting gelding with a 5-1/4-length romp in 2:00 in Race 3 for driver Charles Taylor and winning owner/breeder/trainer Judy Roegner. Travlin Swan (Art McIlmurray) was second, followed by Wonderful Day (Don Harmon). The winner, a son of Enterprise-Luvyaformiles, is now 24-for-57 lifetime with $147,604 in earnings.
Pair Of Hardts ($5.40) broke the record for a four-year-old pacing mare by winning the eighth race in 1:57 with trainer Taylor aboard. She was two lengths clear of Eyes Dont Lie (Winter Asher-Stalbaum) with Rock Ur Wings (Lake) third. Taylor co-owns the winning mare with Jaime Zenker. The daughter of Manhardt-Earhart Hanover tallied her ninth victory and raised her bankroll to $143,331 in her 38th career start.
Finally, in Race 12, Left Hand Lou ($3.60) lowered his own track record for three-year-old pacing colts by nearly four seconds. The son of Dancin Lou-Reis Star Cross, driven by trainer Tim Roach, took over after the first station, defended from a third-quarter challenge by Hard No (Ryan Ver Hage), and opened up by 2-3/4 lengths down the stretch to win in 1:59.1. Bocephus (Ty Goodell) finished second, and Hard No crossed the line fourth but was placed third following the disqualification of Artistic Cat (Paul Cloer Jr.). Left Hand Lou is undefeated in three starts and has earned $10,126 for owner Rose Davis.
McIlmurray, Roach, Taylor, Ed Hennessey, and Massey all had driving doubles. Trainers Roegner, James Eaton, Sandra Hennessey, and Roach each had two wins each on the program.
Racing resumes on Wednesday at Northville Downs at Barry Expo Center with a first-race post time of 1 p.m.
(With files from Northville Downs)