Northville, MI — 11-year-old trotting stallion Celebrity Pegasus and seven-year-old pacing mare Passionate Deo captured the co-featured $10,800 Open Trot and Mares Open Pace on Friday (May 12) night.

Celebrity Pegasus closed gamely from off the pace to win the $10,800 co-feature at Northville Downs on Friday. Renae Parsons Photo.

In the featured trot, Kim Pluta drove the son of Andover Hall from off the pace to victory after early leaders Stoneborough (Bart Stimer) and Swan Leader (Charles Taylor) got tired off the fractions of :28, :58.2, 1:27.3 through three-quarters. Celebrity Pegasus drove up three-wide to grab command down the lane to win by a length in 1:57.4 over Travlin Swan (Art McIlmurray), who closed up for second while Stoneborough settled for third.

The victory for Celebrity Pegasus was career win number 48 and his purse earnings ticked up to $507,446. Celebrity Pegasus is owned by Joshua Graber and trained by Samuel Eicher.

The featured $10,800 Mares Open saw Passionate Deo and driver/trainer Tyler Miller fly off the car to grab the early lead, and they never looked back, winning by a length in 1:54.3 (just three-fifths of a second off of the Aged Pacing Mares track record). Princess Rockette and Lindsay Moen closed hard for second and Skyway Rockatop (David Lake) closed up for third. Miller and his charge set all the fractions (26.4, 54.3, 1:23.3, 1:54.3) to capture the mare’s 23rd career win, pushing her lifetime earnings to $205,711. Greenhorn Racing owns Passionate Deo.

Three drivers doubled up on the night. Kody Massey, Kim Pluta and Jason Merriman took their respective driving doubles. Trainers Linda Main, Samuel Eicher and Paul Cloer, Jr all had training doubles on the program as well.

Racing at Northville Downs resumes Saturday, May 13 at 7 p.m. Live racing continues every Friday and Saturday evening now through September 30. For live racing dining reservations, call Northville Downs in advance at 248-924-2073.