by James Witherite-Rieg for the Croswell Fair

Croswell, MI — Three mares trotted to the line together, causing a photo finish that brought on minutes of anticipation. After the results were announced by the judges, track commentator Brett Boyd rejoiced with Al Tomlinson, the driver of Quando, who won the trotting mares division of the Charles Coon Memorial Futurity at Croswell, Michigan on Monday night, June 11.

Eric Goodell sent ICU Bubby Helen to the lead right from the outset, employing the same tactics that brought her a second place finish in her elimination. See What Happens was parked third at the quarter, but continued on to take the lead shortly thereafter for Carl Putnam. After opening fractions of :31 and 1:02.3, Quando pulled first-over and posed a strong challenge.

The Davanti mare was parked for over half a mile in her elimination, being challenged by ICU Bubby Helen nearly the entire race. In the elimination, Quando cleared at the head of the stretch en route to a 1-1/2 length victory, but her work was cut out for her in the stretch this time.

See What Happens was relentless on the cones, and Goodell pulled the pocket with ICU Bubby Helen. Three-wide through the stretch, Quando nailed her rivals at the line, besting a speedy See What Happens by a nose, with ICU Bubby Helen, between horses, no more than a head away in a thrilling finish that was clocked in 2:03.2.

See What Happens (Keystone Nordic) won her elimination heat wire-to-wire in 2:03.1, dismissing challenges from Anneka Teka, Rhianna Davine, and Head Cheerleader en route to a three length victory.

In the Open Pace division of the Coon, which is restricted to 4-year-olds, Eric Goodell made his return to Michigan worthwhile, going coast-to-coast with Action Figure in a 1:56.4 final.

In his elimination, Artistic Jonathon (Brad Kramer) set the early pace, cutting fractions of :29, :58.1, and 1:29.1. Despite stealing a soft :31 third quarter, Artistic Jonathon came up short, unable to withstand the :26.3 final quarter turned in by a first-over Action Figure. Michael Jacob (Pete Wrenn) was out early but found a pocket trip, able to hold second honors from a fading Artistic Jonathon.

The Cams Eclipse gelding was first-over against Action Figure in the final, but again wasn’t enough, taking second. First elimination winner BT’s Spice Of Life finished third, coming off a length win via a first-over trip. Fourth place finisher Goodbye So Long led much of his elimination before finishing second, but didn’t have as good a trip in the final, having been shuffled back to fifth at three-quarters amid developing flow. The Artistic gelding saved fourth honors in the final, besting a tiring Ace Boo Koo in the stretch.

Tomlinson and Goodell both registered driving doubles with their straight-heat victories, with both listed to drive again on Tuesday night.

Top 5 Michigan Fair drivers (through one day, by earnings):
Eric Goodell — 4-2-1-1 — $29,095
Al Tomlinson — 3-2-1-0 — $23,058
Carl Putnam, Jr. — 6-1-2-0 — $17,233
Pete Wrenn — 4-0-3-0 — $13,818
Tyler Buter — 2-1-0-1 — $9,506