Trainer Tim Roach accounted for three of the eight winners in the $1 million Michigan-Sired Championship program, held on Tuesday, Sept. 3 at the Barry Expo Center.
Roach kicked off his hat trick in the $112,878 freshman filly trot with Libbys Lucky Lady, whom he drove to a 3-3/4-length, 2:03 victory over Capella Star and Keepurhandstourslf, and also owns together with Kyle Larner and Ron Van Wagoner. The daughter of Musclesprinctonian-Stickum Vicky has won six of her 10 career races and earned $91,264.
Roach also teamed Elians Lightning to victory in the $134,595 three-year-old filly trot, riding the pocket to a half-length, 2:03.2 score over Velma Kelly. Divisional standout Ice Crystal, who broke stride just before the half-mile pole, stormed home to narrowly miss the runner-up spot. The Southwind Elian-Show Me The Light filly, who won eight of 11 starts at two, won for only the second time this season but lifted her bankroll to $165,747 for Roach and Willa Rousseau.
Gap Hunter was the centerpiece of Roach's training triple, rallying to a maiden-breaking 1:58.2 win over Hardt Of A King and Ena Gottabebondi in the $137,855 championship for two-year-old pacing colts and geldings. Chris Page catch-drove the Bondi Hanover-Fox Valley Bailey gelding to a three-quarter-length score for Green Rock Stable. He's now banked $85,509 through nine career starts.
Driver Art McIlmurray recorded a double, winning the $132,432 three-year-old male pace with Mr Pnut and the $113,743 two-year-old male trot with Deadly Sting.
Mr Pnut, whom McIlmurray trains for owner/breeder Staci Malady, won for the first time this year and the fifth time in his career after launching a first-over bid up the backstretch into pacesetter Kourageous Key, duelling him into defeat through the far turn and prevailing by a widening 1-3/4 lengths in 1:56.1, the fastest mile of the day. Isle Of Man finished third. The lion's share of the purse boosted the winner's bankroll to $177,093.
Deadly Sting, a Musclesprinctonian-Chipps Lake gelding owned by trainer Krista Harmon and breeder Libby Myers, sat off the pace, emerged in contention at the top of the stretch when leader Chip Of The South broke stride and rallied down the center of the track to nab Ripn Hero by a half length in 2:03 for his second win in 10 career starts. New Plan Stan, who entered the race undefeated, tired after being parked from the outset and finished third. The winner's bankroll climbed to $75,210.
Kaa Dee Archie was the fastest trotter on the program, driven by David Lake to a four-length, 2:00 win over T L Waldo and Striking Chips in the $134,595 three-year-old male pace. Divisional standout Guns A Brazen failed to sustain a three-wide push at the half-mile pole and finished sixth. Kent Hess trains the victorious son of Southwind Russet-Cant Fire Me, who has won seven of his 10 races this year and has won 11 times and banked $127,287 lifetime while competing as a homebred for Marjorie Deshetsky.
Forever A Flirt turned in a gutsy performance to win the $134,595 three-year-old filly pace. In line to Brad Kramer, the Bondi Hanover-Always A Romance filly was headed by Flippin Lucky heading into the far turn before battling back to prevail by three-quarters of a length in 1:56.4 over pocket rival Pair Of Harts, who lunged up the inside to collar Flippin Lucky for second. Forever A Flirt has won seven of nine starts this year and 12 of 18 in her career, banking $161,377 for trainer Kelly Goodwin and co-owner Crystal Terrell.
BBs Tonicfor Jetta and trainer/driver Rex Putnam pounced from the pocket to upend Myheartfromtestart in the $136,774 two-year-old filly pace by 1-3/4 lengths in 2:00.2. Can't Xplain It rallied for third. The Stonebridge Tonic-Hoosier Jetta filly has now won two of seven starts and $86,297 for Rebecca Putnam.
The Michigan fair harness racing circuit travels to Allegan, Mich., for two programs next week on Monday, Sept. 9 and Wednesday, Sept. 11. First post both days is 12 noon.
(With files from Michigan Harness Horsemen's Association)