Trainer/driver Dan Venier's homebred Herecomescharlie B cruised to victory in the $9,500 Open Trot on Friday night (Sept. 29), completing the mile in 1:56 flat.
Herecomescharlie B launched to the front off the car and never looked back, putting up fractions of :27.4, :58 and 1:27.2 before closing out the mile with a :28.3 final quarter to stop the timer in an eye-popping 1:56, just three-fifths of a second off the track record for an aged trotting gelding, and winning by an incredible 10-1/2-length margin. The win marked career victory number 21 for the six-year-old Full Count gelding, whose lifetime earnings now exceed $250,000. I Get It and Bob Rowland closed well for second and Stoneborough hung on for third.
Cruisin Thru Time and trainer/driver Kody Massey captured the $9,500 Mares Open Pace in 1:56. Cruisin Thru Time, owned by Brook Daniel, doubled up in the Mares Open at Northville by closing from worst to first to win by a one-length margin over runner-up Saddle Up N Cruise (Kim Pluta) and Skyway Venus, who was third. It was the 24th win for the five-year-old Yankee Cruiser mare, whose earnings eclipsed the $150,000 mark.
Six non-wagering events were held prior to the pari-mutuel card as part of the Great Lake Stakes Series, each for a purse or $20,000. The winners were two-year-old pacing gelding Deciding Factor (1:59.4); two-year-old pacing filly Pair Of Hardts (1:59.4); three-year-old trotting geldings Smash The Rail (2:03) and Bluemoon Glide (2:00.1); three-year-old pacing filly Mega Diamond (1:58.1); and three-year-old pacing gelding Twobirdsonestone (1:58.1).
For Twobirdsonestone, the win was the 10th of the season as he remains undefeated in 2023 and the Carl Putnam Jr. trainee is now 22-for-23 lifetime with earnings of $250,000.
Racing at The Ville resumes on Saturday, Sept 30 at 7 p.m. with a 12-race pari-mutuel wagering program, which includes three additional $20,000 Great Lake Stakes as races four through six and the Open Pace in race 11.
(With files from Northville Downs)