by Dan Conway, USTA Web Newsroom Correspondant

Driver Larry Stalbaum is real hot in the Open Handicap ranks at Northville Downs. On Friday night he and Midnight Jewel devoured a field of mares and on Saturday night he was sitting pretty again behind the favorite, King Of Cards, in the $14,500 Open Handicap Pace.

In from Woodbine, King Of Cards was two for eight this season and had been knocking at the door in his most recent starts. Brad Kramer and Copeland Comet were the second choice. Copeland Comet was fresh off an Open victory at Windsor Raceway.

After the scratch of Yukon Cornelius, six geldings and the horse, Copeland Comet, left the gate with Stalbaum, a naturally aggressive driver, urging King Of Cards right to the front from the seven post. Pacific Titan was away second in the hands of Michael Wolfe. The great JC got away third, driven by his regular driver Mark Webster.

Heading to the half, Kendal Quest and Steve Main came out from fourth. King Of Cards had the field at the quarter in :28.1 and the half came in :58.1.

Rounding the clubhouse turn and heading down the backstretch, King Of Cards picked up the pace and put a length and half between himself and Pacific Titan. Meanwhile, Kendal Quest started to hang on the outside, forcing Kramer and Copeland Comet to head three wide, followed by Vince Copeland and Antique Tom. The three-quarters came in a modest 1:27.3, on a track rated “good” because of daylong rains.

Heading around the final turn, King Of Cards, by Cam’s Card Shark, out of We Be Sweet, started to get a little tougher and pulled away to a two length lead entering the stretch. Coming into the lane, Pacific Titan was second and JC third.

Down the stretch, King Of Cards cruised, giving up a length and winning in 1:57.2. One length back in second was Pacific Titan, with JC another quarter length back in third.

Richard Noel of Livonia owns King Of Cards, a five-year-old who is trained by Robert Barrett. He now has lifetime earnings of $69,427.