Northville, MI – Admiral Adam (Always A Virgin – Fox Valley Praline) and driver Kody Massey survived a first-up trip to win the Saturday night (July 15) featured Open 1 Handicap at Northville Downs in a new lifetime mark of 1:53.3.

Admiral Adam established a new lifetime mark (1:53.3) in winning the featured Open 1 Handicap Saturday at Northville Downs. Renae Parsons Photo.

Early leaders Last Bet and Lying In Cash battled to an opening quarter of :27.3 when Jason Merriman and Lying In Cash took back over going to the half in :57. Admiral Adam marched up first over and challenged Lying In Cash to three-quarters in 1:25.1 before Admiral Adam wore down the early leader in the stretch to win by a three-quarter-length margin.

The win was Admiral Adam’s 12th career victory. The 4-year-old gelding is owned by Lases Racing and trained by Paul Cloer, Jr.

In the Open 2 Pace, Liberal won in coast-to-coast fashion for driver/trainer Art McIlmurray and owner Staci Malady in 1:56.1 marking the 49th career victory for the 12-year-old I Am A Fool gelded son.

Perhaps the most exciting race on the night was race nine where Coalfordbythesea, a 4-year-old gelded son of Downbytheseaside, battled My Friskie Boy, a 10-year-old gelded son of Feelin Friskie, to an opening quarter timed in :25.4 seconds, which is believed to be one of the fastest, if not the fastest, opening quarters over the Michigan oval in its history since opening in 1944.

Coalfordbythesea and driver Justin Irvine prevailed to win the race in a time of 1:55.3 for owner/trainer Gerald Malady.

DriverArt McIlmurray had a driving triple while Drew Neill, Don Harmon and Justin Irvine had doubles. Trainers Gerald Malady, Todd Pappas and Becky Zubkoff all had training doubles on the evening.

Racing at The Ville resumes Friday (July 21) at 7 p.m. Friday night is dollar night featuring $1 live programs, $1 pop and popcorn, $2 hot dogs and beer and hamburger and cheeseburger specials. Northville Downs races every Friday and Saturday night until Sept. 30 with a 7 p.m. post time. For live racing dining reservations, be sure to call Northville Downs in advance at 248.924.2073.