The Michigan Fair Stakes Finals, worth $20,000 each, were contested on Saturday evening (Sept. 23) at the Northville, Michigan oval where one track record was established and another was equalled.
In race four on the pari-mutuel program, Donttouchmytruck (Racing Hill – Age of Consent) smashed the track record for a three-year-old pacing gelding in a final time of 1:54.1 with Jason Merriman in tow. The previous record of 1:54.4 was set in 2010 by Smarter Yet (Skip DeMull).
Donttouchmytruck and Merriman set sail off the car and put up all of the fractions in :28.1, :58.1 and 1:26.1. They closed out a widening five and a half-length margin of victory in 1:54.1, defeating runner-up The Mandalorian (Art McIlmurray) and third-place finisher Captain Max Henry (Don Harmon), to capture the $20,000 Michigan Fair Stakes Final for three-year-old colt and gelding pacers. He is bred, owned and trained in Michigan by Judy Roegner.
In the non-wagering card earlier in the afternoon, Johns Baby Filly (Long Tom – Jacobs Gilly) and driver Justin Irvine, captured the $20,000 Michigan Fair Stakes Final for two-year-old filly trotters in 2:02.2, equalling the track record for her division. The record was previously set by Call Me Senorita in 2021 and matched in 2022 by Codys Deal. Johns Baby Filly is bred and owned in Michigan by Raelee Ann Beecher and trained by Brian Boring. Elians Lightning finished second and Plenty O Sunshine was third.
The winners of the other Fair Stakes Finals are available below:
Two-Year-Old Colt Pace: Goodness Graycious (Tellitlikeitis – Cambeth)
Driver: Don Harmon
Trainer: Al Tomlinson
Owner/Breeder: Darwin & Ann Shaver and Laura Perniciaro
Time: 1:57.3
Three-Year-Old Filly Trot: Its Wine Time (What the Hill – Oks Lorann)
Driver: Brad Kramer
Trainer: Al Tomlinson
Owner/Breeder: Ann Shaver, Beth Thelen and Laura Perniciaro
Time: 1:59.3
Three-Year-Old Colt Trot: New Swan In Town (Swan In A Million – Ss Golden Chip)
Drriver: Skip DeMull
Trainer: Donna Cotton
Owner: Cotton Standardbreds
Breeder: Donna & Jeffrey Cotton
Time: 1:59.2
Three-Year-Old Filly Pace: Fix Ur Makeup (Jk Endofanera – Kerosene)
Driver: Don Harmon
Trainer/Owner/Breeder: Krista Harmon
Time: 1:57.4
In the Open Pace, Diesel Accelerator (Big Bad John – So Very Nice) and driver/trainer Kody Massey led wire to wire in 1:55.1 to win by two lengths over Youmakemyheartsing (second) and Dusto (third). It was the 32nd career win for the seven-year-old gelding, who is owned by Russ Mignano.
In total for the non-wagering and pari-mutuel race programs, drivers Kody Massey and Justin Irvine had driving hat tricks, Jason Merriman and Don Harmon had driving doubles while Brian Boring and Al Tomlinson had training doubles.
Northville Downs resumes racing on Friday, Sept. 29 with a first post time of 7 p.m. Friday is dollar night at The Ville with $1 pop, live programs and popcorn, $2 hot dogs and beer and hamburger and cheeseburger specials. Northville Downs races every Friday and Saturday night through Nov. 25 with a 7 p.m. post time.
(With files from Northville Downs)