The 13-year-old veteran Celebrity Pegasus showed his class as he broke the record for an older trotting horse in a $10,685 conditioned dash at Northville Downs at Barry Expo Center in Hastings, Mich. on Tuesday, Sept. 23.
Celebrity Pegasus went forward off the wings for driver Kody Massey but ended up parked outside the early leader Kings Sweetheart (David Lake) through :28.4 and :58.4 fractions until the three-quarters in 1:29.2, when Celebrity Pegasus powered to the lead. He opened up by three lengths by the eighth pole and held on to win by a length over hard-charging Emerald Chip (Lauren Harmon). Stoneborough (Bart Stimer) finished third. The final clocking of 2:00 established a new trotting track record for an aged stallion.
The win was the 57th of Celebrity Pegasus' career in 233 starts, and he now boasts earnings of $555,945. The son of Andover Hall-Celebrity Athena is owned and trained by Samuel Eicher. He returned $4 to win.
Lavern Miller, who has more than four decades of driving experience, had two drives on the card and won both. According to Miller, it was the first driving double of his career. He won with Bo Nanza Chip ($4.20), whom he trains for owner JD Yoder, in 1:59.4 in the fourth race. Then, in the seventh race, Miller's Capella Star ($7.20) braved a tough trip to win by a nose over Juu Dee Kaa (David Lake) in 2:02. The two victories put Miller at 10 driving wins for the season, his best year on record. He now has 54 starts, 10 wins, nine seconds, and six thirds for a UDRS of .314 in 2025. He has also won four consecutive drives.
In the co-featured $18,082 Fillies and Mares Open Pace, Pair of Hardts ($11.80) and Charles Taylor shot in-between horses late to win by a neck in 1:57.2. Rock Ur Wings (Ty Goodell) was placed second and Meadowbrook Lady (Massey) was elevated to third after Go Go Lyla Jane (Kim Pluta), who crossed the line second, was disqualified to fourth. Taylor co-owns the winning four-year-old daughter of Manhardt-Earhart Hanover with Jaime Zenker. She has won 10 of 41 career starts.
And finally, the co-featured $18,082 Open Trot was won in coast-to-coast fashion by Rose Run Vincent ($13.20) for owner-trainer-driver Lake in 1:59.3 by a half-length over Peter The Con (Ed Hennessey), who closed up ground, albeit too late. Travlin Swan (Art McIlmurray) was third. Rose Run Vincent, an eight-year-old son of And Away We Go-Real Housewife, is now 29-for-158 lifetime.
Lake led all drivers on the afternoon with four wins.
Racing resumes on Wednesday, Sept 24 at Northville Downs with a first-race post time of 1 p.m.
(With files from Northville Downs)