Even-money favourite Longwell wore down pacesetter Sir James to win the $100,000 William C. Connors Memorial Pace, Hazel Park Raceway's signature race, on Friday night.
The Grand Circuit event for three-year-old trotters is named for the late Hall of Fame race secretary who worked at the Michigan track from 1953 to 1980.
Leaving from the outside post six in the evening's main attraction, last week's Connors Prep winner Sir James (Mark Headworth) fired to command and cut out opening panels of :28.1 and :58.2. At the midway mark, trainer/driver Dan Shetler sent Longwell first over from fourth and moved up to apply heavy pressure past the 1:27.4 third quarter station. As the trotters turned for home, Sir James gave way after being swarmed on both sides by Longwell and the pylon-skimming Powerful Poe (Todd Warren). With a :29.1 final frame, Longwell held onto the lead down the stretch to score in 1:57.1 by one length.
Powerful Poe finished second with Voodoo Victor (Robert Dinning) closing from second over for third. Sir James faded to fourth while Theatrical Session (Brad Krammer) was fifth off a three-hole trip. Longshot Torino Seelster rounded out the field after breaking stride at the start of the race for Hall of Fame driver Bill O'Donnell.
The victory was the richest yet for Longwell, who also earned a stakes win in last year's $76,500 American National at Balmoral Park. He now sports a career record reading 3-3-3 in 13 starts with earnings climbing to $118,053.
The homebred Yankee Glide-Minibar colt is owned by Dan and Jo Shetler of Indianapolis, Indiana.