The wins keep coming for Marc St. Louis Jr., whose Saturday (Sept. 5) seven-bagger at Hiawatha Horse Park included a hard-earned win with Validus Deo ($3.00) in the $6,000 Preferred 3 Pace.
The 10-year-old Lis Mara gelding left from post seven to land in third behind early pacesetter Cullen Keefe N (Lorne House) through a :27.3 quarter before St. Louis activated him first-over with a circuit to go. Validus Deo engaged Cullen Keefe N in a cutthroat duel through middle splits of :56.2 and 1:24.3.
Midway on the final turn, Validus Deo put Cullen Keefe N away for good — but found a new challenge from Cool Rock (Travis Henry) in upper stretch. Cool Rock closed significant ground once able to find room, but Validus Deo found the line in time to win by 1-1/3 lengths in 1:53.4. Kingofbrokenhearts (Tyler Borth) chased the winner's live cover to take third.
Danielle St. Louis trains 47-time winner Validus Deo for Stewart McQueen and Meghan Riley.
St. Louis also won aboard Kevndan Fraudsters ($3.80, 1:55), White Dancer ($2.40, 1:57.1), Groogrux King ($17.10, 1:55.2), Ionia ($4.70, 2:00), Village Champ ($3.00, 1:56) and Rye N Clyne ($3.30, 1:53.4).
Ryan Clements, creator of interactive harness racing games Off And Pacing and Catch Driver, earned his first training win on a non-virtual racetrack in the afternoon's seventh race, sending P L Nancy ($15.00) to victory in a $4,600 conditioned pacing event.
When pacesetter Shakeitifyougotit (St. Louis) broke stride on the home turn, P L Nancy and driver Lorne House found themselves within two lengths of Literally Hanover (Travis Henry), who inherited the lead. The three-year-old daughter of Big Jim found her best stride off the home turn, lunging late to reach by a neck in 1:59.
To view Saturday's complete results, click the following link: Saturday Results – Hiawatha Horse Park.