Commander Bob and driver David Lake captured the featured $14,211 Open Pace on the Saturday (Jan. 6) night program at Northville Downs.
White Belly and Marc St. Louis Jr. and Letsnotforget and Kody Massey battled for the early lead to the quarter in :27.4. Before the dust settled, White Belly was on the lead but Commander Bob rocketed up to take over en route to the half in :57.2 for a :29.3 second quarter breather. RB ranged up into second after the half. The pair sprinted away from the field up the backstretch to three-quarters in 1:25.1, a :27.4 third split. As they turned for home, RB and Kim Pluta came to the outside to take a shot at the leader, but Commander Bob could not be overthrown and held on to win in a final clocking of 1:54.3 by 1-3/4 lengths.
Commander Bob (Real Desire – Christa Ann) earned his 15th career win. The five-year-old pacer is leased by Kyle Larner and trained by Sean Mapes.
Austin Hanners had a driving hat trick on the night while Marc St. Louis Jr and David Lake had driving doubles. Becky Zubkoff had a training double on the program.
Racing at The Ville resumes at 7 p.m. on Friday, Jan. 12, which is dollar night at The Ville with $1 live programs, $1 pop, $1 popcorn, $2 hot dogs and beer and hamburger and cheeseburger specials.
(With files from Northville Downs)