Northville, MI — Big Bang Boom captured the $10,800 Open Pace Saturday night (Sept. 24) at Northville Downs.

Up in class off of a win last week, Big Bang Boom was sent off as the 2-1 favorite and did not disappoint his backers. Sent for the lead by driver Marc St. Louis Jr., the 9-year-old Big Jim gelding set fractions of :27.1, :56.3 and 1:25.3 and held off all challengers in the class-packed field to defeat runner-up Sumthinboutim (driven by Justin Irvine) by 1-1/4 lengths in 1:55.

Big Bang Boom blitzed to the front and outlasted his competition in Saturday’s Open Pace at Northville Downs. Renae Parsons photo.

This was the second consecutive victory for the Danielle St. Louis-owned and -trained pacer since arriving in Michigan by way of Canada.

The final four $20,000 Michigan Fair Finals, for 3-year-olds of both sexes and gaits, were held as non-wagering events. Al Tomlinson’s Memory Makin (Tellitlikeitis-Bronwen Seelster) captured the colt and gelding pace division easily for driver Brad Kramer by 3-1/2 lengths in 1:55.2. Don and Krista Harmon doubled up, winning both filly divisions with trotter WHR Trust’s Fancy Flex (Flex The Muscle-Mom’s Datebook) in 2:03 and the pacing division with their homebred Black Tilly (Well Said-Dayzee Dukes) in 1:57.2. The colt trot division went to Saulsgood (Crescent Fashion-Simply Patty) and driver Art McIlmurray, who won by 9-1/4 lengths in a track record 1:58.4 for owner E C S Racing LLC and conditioner Kevin St. Charles.

Northville Downs live racing resumes Friday (Sept. 30) with first post at 7:30 p.m. Northville Downs races every Friday and Saturday night through Dec. 17.