Northville, MI – On a beautiful, cloud-free Friday night (June 3)  in Northville, MI, nine top trotters went to post in the $14,000 featured race for Fillies & Mares.

The 14 year-old Empire Earl N (W. Asher-Stalbaum) left for the lead and set fractions of :27.3, :57.2, and three-quarters in 1:27.4 before being challenged and passed by Holton (5, G  Dontyouforgetit – Mama’s Brokn Heart – Tsunami Ranger) and driver David Lake in late-stretch.

Holton paid $14,40 as the upset winner in the $14,000 feature for Fillies & Mares Friday night (June 3) at Northville Downs. Renae Parsons Photo.

The duo of Holton and Lake were parked, second over, outside, from the word go following last week’s Open winner Omyheart (S. DeMull) who was first up, until the three-quarters when Lake guided Holton three wide to challenge Empire Earl N and eventually subdue that one to draw away to win by a quarter of a length over a hard-charging I Get It (B. Rowland) at the wire. Empire Earl N settled for the show dough.

Holton covered the mile distance in 1:58.1 and paid $14.40 to win for winning trainer Maurice Goldschmidt, Jr who co-owns Holton with Oldford Racing, LLC. This was Holton’s eighth career victory and third on the season.

*Programming note* – Northville Downs resumes live racing today, Saturday (June 4). Saturday’s program features 16 races including the featured event, race eight that includes Southwind Amazon ($ 1,316,221, 1;48.3f), Northville Downs’ all-time track record holder (1:52.0) who returns to take on another Northville track record holder in Top Notch and five other rivals. First race post time continues to be 7:30 p.m. each race night.