Northville, MI – Swan Leader captured the $10,800 Open Trot Friday (Dec. 2) at Northville Downs by a length and a quarter in 2:00.1.

Swan Leader was the winner of the featured $10,000 Open Friday night at Northville Downs. Renae Parsons Photo.

Driver/trainer Charles Taylor left hard for the lead with Swan Leader and faced a rough first quarter, in :28.4, parked on the outside of early leader SJs Edith and driver Lavern Miller. But once Swan Leader found his gear, he lived up to his name and led the field of nine Open trotters the remainder of the race.

Swan Leader is owned by Charles Taylor and Vivian Booher. The victory marked career win number 57 for the 10-year-old son of Swan For All, whose earnings now total $421,035.

Meanwhile, the night’s driving leaders were Kody Massey and Charles Taylor with two wins each. Trainer Paul Cloer, Jr. had a training triple and also picked up a driving win. Owner/trainer June Du Russel had a double on the program. And owner Lases Racing had a double.

With just five race nights left in the 2022 meet, the driver and trainer standings are tightening. With his three wins tonight, Kody Massey moves to 86 wins, now just 14 wins behind meet’s leader Marc St. Louis, Jr. who has 100. On the trainer side, Jim Trey Brinson (31 wins) is clinging to a one win lead over Danielle St. Louis and Paul Cloer, Jr (each with 30), followed by Elizabeth Tolley with 26 and Gerald Malady with 24.

Northville Downs live racing resumes Saturday (Dec. 3) at 7:30 p.m. Northville Downs races every Friday and Saturday night from now through Dec. 17.