Two-year-olds were in the spotlight on Friday (Sept. 9) at Northville Downs, with the half-mile oval hosting four Michigan Sire Stakes Finals.
In the $92,094 Michigan Sire Stakes Final for two-year-old trotting fillies, Codys Deal (Do The Deal - Codys Revenge) and driver/trainer Kim Pluta stormed up at the half-mile pole from seventh, cleared tiring leader Johnny May Cruz (Aaron Colley) on the backstretch. The tandem then held off a late charge from pocket sitter Krystals Jewel in the lane to hang on for a half-length victory in 2:02.2. The mile time equalled the track record previously set in October 2021 by Call Me Senorita and driver Larry Smith.
Pictured above, Codys Deal took the lion’s share of the purse for winning owner Kathy Todd and breeder Jonas Schwartz, lifting her earnings over the $62,000 mark.
Chapter Twenty One (Fitzmagic - Lasent) was one of only two trotters in the field of seven who stayed flat, allowing him to capture the $113,918 Michigan Sire Stakes Final for two-year-old colt trotters in wire-to-wire fashion for owner/trainer/driver Tim Driver and breeder Libby Myers. He was nearly five lengths the best, with the mile timed in 2:07.1.
On the early non-wagering card, Grey Lingerie (Western Thorn - Its A Sham) went wire-to-wire for driver Rick Dobson, trainer Monica Krist, owners Teresa Marotta, Rick Dobson, Melissa Kesler and breeder Libby Myers to take the $111,918 Michigan Sire Stakes Final for two-year-old filly pacers in 2:02.4. The win was Grey Lingerie’s fourth in a row and fifth on the season.
Finally, the $110,118 Michigan Sire Stake Final for two-year-old colt pacers was nabbed by Two Birds Onestone (Black Daniels - She B Jeebeez), who also remained undefeated in his eighth lifetime start, in a career best time of 1:59.3 for driver/trainer/owner Carl Putnam Jr. and breeders Brian Boring and Jennifer Vollmer.
Northville Downs races Saturday night (Sept. 10), with four non-wagering divisions of the lucrative Michigan Sire Stake Finals for three-year-olds beginning at 5:30 p.m. Then at 7:30 p.m, pari-mutuel wagering begins with an 11-race program that features the $10,800 Open Pace in the ninth race.
Northville Downs races every Friday and Saturday night through December 17.
(Northville)