Hastings, MI — Northville Downs at Barry Expo Center in Hastings, Michigan held the Michigan Sire Stakes Finals on Wednesday afternoon (Aug 27) and they did not disappoint.
Eight races of the 11 programmed featured the Sire Stakes Finals with purses $731,240 ($30,000 of which was from the first three undercard races).
In the $87,450 two-year-old filly trot final, the Samuel Eicher owned Westwinds Yahtzee (Celebrity Pegasus-Keep the Cash) got the victory and lowered the track record for two-year-old filly trotters by two and two-fifths seconds, trotting the mile in 2:01.4 and winning by seven lengths for trainer/driver Lewayne Miller. Westwinds Yahtzee is now five for six lifetime.
The $86,730 two-year-old colt trot was won easily by 15 lengths by Powerful Ending (Musical Rhythm–Powerful Mission), who is owned by ECS Racing, LLC, trained by Kevin St. Charles, and driven to victory by John Moody. Powerful Ending lowered his previous track record by three seconds to 2:03 and is now four for nine lifetime.
Race six was the two-year-old filly pace for a purse of $88,890. It was captured by Rockylanes owned Lady Victorious (Captain Victorious–Arts Meme) who won by 19 and three-quarters lengths while dropping her track record from 2:03 to 1:56.4. Lady Victorious is trained and driven by Lewayne Miller, and the filly is now six for seven lifetime.
The $91,050 two-year-old colt pace was taken by Believeincaptain (Captain Victorious–Believeincarrie), who is now a perfect eight for eight in his young career. Believeincaptain won by two lengths in a time of 1:58, which lowered his previous track record by one second. The undefeated colt is owned by Oldford Racing, LLC and Allen Sisco Stable, LLC, and is trained by Allen Sisco and driven to victory by Kody Massey.
In race eight, the $81,760 three-year-old filly trot was won by Westwinds Pegasus (Celebrity Pegasus–Keep the Cash), who is a full older sister to the earlier winner Westwinds Yahtzee, and is owned by Lewayne Miller and Platinum Stables. Westwinds Pegasus won by 9-1/2 lengths in a time of 1:59.2, lowering her previous track record from 2:02.4, which she set on August 19. Westwinds Pegasus is now eight for 11 lifetime with five of those eight wins coming in 2025. She is trained and driven by the aforementioned Lewayne Miller.
The three-year-old colt trot for a purse of $82,480 was captured by Chip of the South (Bourbon Chip–Belle of the South) for owners Teresa Marotta, Rick Dobson and Melissa Kesler, trainer Monica Krist and driver Rick Dobson. This was one race that the top two horses battled from the half and all the way to the finish as early leader New Plan Stan (Greg Bateson) was eventually ground down by Chip of the South in the stretch. Last week in the elimination, the pair of trotters finished in a dead heat for the win, and until they got to the finish line, it appeared they may be headed for a second dead heat. Chip of the South won by a length in a time of 2:01.2, which lowered the previous track record from 2:08.2 set by Chip of the South, New Plan Stan, and JM Rigs the previous week.
The richest division was the three-year-old filly pace with a purse of $100,400 and was scratched down to a field of six. Taylor Dawn (Bondi Hanover – I’ll Deal A Queen) went coast-to-coast for driver Brad Kramer, trainer Paul Cloer, Jr and owner Gregory Gardner to win by a length and a half in a time of 2:01.2. It was Taylor Dawn’s sixth with on the year in her sixth start of her ’25 campaign. Lifetime, she is now 9 for 14 and her winning time established the new track record for a three-year-old pacing filly.
Finally, the three-year-old colt pace with a purse of $82,480 was won by a four and a half length margin by Hardt of a King (Manhardt – Earhart Hanover) in a new track record time of 1:59.4 which lowered his previous record by a full second. Hardt of a King is owned and trained by Kelly Goodwin and driven by Brad Kramer. The win was the seventh on the year out of eight starts and Hardt of a King is now 11 for 19 lifetime.
Driver Lewayne Miller led all others with three wins on the afternoon while Kody Massey, John Moody, and Brad Kramer each had two. Lewayne Miller also led all trainers on the day with three wins, while Allen Sisco was next best with two.
Racing at Northville Downs at Barry Expo Center in Hastings, MI returns next Tuesday (Sept 2) and Wednesday (Sept 3) with a first post time of 1:00 p.m. each day.