Northville, MI – Omyheart  (4, G   Dontyouforgetit – Peg O My Heart – Muscle Hill) and driver Skip DeMull overcame being parked the mile and traffic trouble to take a trip to the winner’s circle in Friday’s (May 13) $10,800 Open Trot in 1:58.

Omyheart and driver Skip DeMull overcame a troubled trip to win Friday’s $10,800 Open Trot in 1:58 at Northville Downs. Renae Parsons Photo.

After early leaders I Get It (Bob Rowland) and Stoneborough (Kim Pluta) battled each other into submission, DeMull and his charge swept up off cover to blow by in the lane to win going away by 1-3/4 lengths.  Omyheart captured his 15th career victory in just his 28th lifetime start and is trained by Jason Hanna who co-owns with Mr. Kim Haver.

Princess Rockette with driver Kim Pluta won the $10,800 Fillies and Mares Open Pace at Northville Downs on Friday night. Renae Parsons Photo.

In the $10,800 Fillies and Mares Open Pace, Princess Rockette  (5, M   Pet Rock – Hammers Princess – Mach Three) never faced a challenge and went wire-to-wire in 1:54.3 with driver Kim Pluta to capture her 22nd career victory and second in a row at Northville Downs for trainer Will Johnson and owner George Hensley Jr.

Drivers Skip DeMull, 64, and Justin Irvine, 20, each had three winners on the night’s program and showed that harness racing is the one sport where individuals with large age differences can compete on a level playing field and achieve equal success.

*Programming note* – Northville Downs will race its next live program Saturday (May 14). Next week Northville Downs will race its live programs on Thursday (May 19) and Friday (May 20) instead of the usual Friday and Saturday race nights in an effort to maximize the ability to run a successful live race date with the increased business done during Preakness Day. The normal Friday-Saturday schedule will resume the following weekend (May 27-28). First race post time remains 7:30 p.m. each night.