The final four of the $20,000 Michigan Fair Finals at Northville Downs showcased three-year-olds as non-wagering events on Saturday (Sept. 24).
The three-year-old colts and geldings divisions, as well as the separate fillies divisions, for both trotters and pacers were settled when the dust fell.
Al Tomlinson’s Memory Makin (Tellitlikeitis – Bronwen Seelster) captured his colt and gelding pace division easily for driver Brad Kramer by three and a half lengths in 1:55.2.
Don and Krista Harmon doubled up winning the filly trot and pace divisions with Whr Trust's Fancy Flex (Flex The Muscle – Mom’s Datebook) in 2:03 and then with their own homebred Black Tilly (Well Said – Dayzee Dukes), who defeated her stablemate, Gary Clark’s Real Slick Chic, also conditioned by the Harmons, in 1:57.2.
The colt and gelding trot division went to Saulsgood (Crescent Fashion – Simply Patty) and driver Art McIlmurray by nine and a quarter lengths in 1:58.4 for owner E C S Racing, LLC and conditioner Kevin St. Charles.
Meanwhile, Big Bang Boom (Big Jim – Shytown Lightning) captured the $10,800 Open Pace on Saturday at Northville.
Up in class off of a win last week, Big Bang Boom was sent off as the 2-1 favourite and did not disappoint his backers.
Sent for the lead by driver Marc St. Louis Jr., the nine-year-old gelding set fractions of 27.1, 56.3, 1:25.3 and held off all challengers in the class-packed field to cross under the line first by one and a quarter lengths over runner-up Sumthinboutim and driver Justin Irvine, completing the mile in a final time of 1:55.
This was the second consecutive victory for the Danielle St. Louis owned and trained pacer, since arriving to Michigan by way of Canada.
Northville Downs live racing resumes on Friday, Sept. 30, with pari-mutuel racing starting at 7:30 p.m. Northville Downs races every Friday and Saturday night from now through to Dec. 17.
(Northville)