Northville, MI — After taking top honors in Michigan Sire Stakes as freshmen in 2018, Matty’s Legacy and Gemini Eddie successfully defended their titles as 3-year-olds in Tuesday afternoon’s (Aug. 13) $230,000 Michigan Sire Stakes at Northville Downs.

Matty’s Legacy recorded a pillar-to-post 1:58.4 win over four rivals in the 3-year-old colt and gelding pace, which carried a purse of $29,210. Rick Dobson sent the son of Keystone Rodeo clear early to control fractions of :29.2, :59.2 and 1:28.2, amassing a four-length lead over Bilbo Bobbins (Michael DeRuntz) on the final turn. Upon cornering for home, Bilbo Bobbins closed in steadily, but Matty’s Legacy had enough to outlast him by a half length. Totally Innocent (Ryan VerHage) finished a distant third.

Monica Krist owns and trains Matty’s Legacy, now a 13-time winner in his career.

Gemini Eddie proved a more convincing winner in the $29,460 event for 3-year-old trotting colts and geldings, urged clear by Art McIlmurray to seize command from Stanwood (Chuck Taylor) past a :31 quarter and drawing clear steadily from there. The son of Southwind Russet built up an 8-1/4 length advantage over the mildly rallying Safe And Sound (Carl Putnam Jr.) to win in 2:01.2, while Stanwood faded to third.

Kevin St. Charles trains 11-time winner Gemini Eddie for E C S Racing LLC.

Progeny of Manhardt — two of them bred by Libby Myers — captured the other three Michigan Sire Stakes pacing finals. Vicious Circle (Brad Kramer, 1:59) captured the $29,710 2-year-old filly pace in front-end fashion, while Lady Medusa (Larry Lee Smith, 1:59.2) sustained a first-over grind to take the $29,960 3-year-old filly pace to complete Myers’ breeding double. Oscar Sievert homebred Gabe The Babe (Taylor, 1:59.3) was the other victorious offspring of Manhardt, coasting to a 5-3/4 length win in the $30,460 freshman colt and gelding pace.

Driver Carl Putnam Jr. captured a pair of trotting events, doing so with offspring of Colie’s: Suzygottanewheart (2:09.3) won the $29,710 event for 2-year-old colts and geldings by a widening 11 lengths — the biggest winning margin of the afternoon, and You Go Girlygirl (2:06.1) overcame an early break to win the $28,960 event for 3-year-old fillies.

Come On Loretta (2:06.4) completed the octet of Sire Stakes winners, narrowly taking the $30,210 2-year-old filly trot. Breeder Tim Roach trains and drove the daughter of Crest, and he shares ownership with Larry Elvin.