by T.J. Burkett, for The Red Mile

Lexington, KY — Driver Marcus Johansson posted a career night at The Red Mile on Monday night, September 10, winning seven races on the 15-race card.

Nigel Soult photo

Driver Marcus Johansson won seven races at The Red Mile, including this 1:58.2 score with Susan XYZ.

Johansson, 29, won with well-bred Susan XYZ in 1:58.2 in a $6,000 early closer leg for 2-year-old trotting fillies. Johansson called the Credit Winner filly “one of the best horses I’ve ever sat behind.”

Susan XYZ, an $85,000 yearling purchase bred by Valley High Stable, is co-owned by Bob and David Anderson, Rod Ferguson and John Fielding. She is trained by Jimmy Takter.

“We’re just taking it easy with this filly right now,” said Bob Anderson, who was in Lexington to sell some Thoroughbred yearlings at Keeneland but stopped by The Red Mile to watch two of his horses race. “If we race her up (in Canada) against those two or three good fillies that are up there we’d race her guts out.”

Johansson picked up an off-the-pace, 1:53.3 win with Living It Up in a $6,000 early closer leg for 2-year-old pacing colts. Takter, who is Johansson’s father-in-law, also trains this Western Ideal colt. Living It Up is out of Living With Art p,3,1:51 ($345,967). He is owned by breeder Brittany Farms.

Dave Palone and Tony Hall are recovering from injuries sustained in an accident at Scioto Downs on September 8, and were taken off their drives at The Red Mile on Monday night. This allowed Johansson to pick up some clutch catch-drive wins with Bobby V Character ($6.80), Cruisin Lady ($21.80), Casino King ($3.00) and Snowdaze ($8.40). He also won with Celebrity Jamie ($7.80) for trainer Staffan Lind.

“This is the best night I’ve ever had driving,” Johansson said. “I’ve won five at Yonkers and Pocono but I’ve never won seven before.”