Northville Downs: Two Birds Onestone heads Michigan Sire Stakes champions

Friday night, September 8, Northville Downs hosted the Michigan Sire Stakes finals. The purses totaled $666,000 and included four non-wagering finals for the pacing divisions, and then the pari-mutuel program saw the four splits for the trotters.

Three-year-old pacing gelding Two Birds Onestone (Black Daniels-She B Jeebeez) captured his $90,000 event in 1:58 4/5, coming from an early third position to win as Fitz Bobbins (Justin Irvine) finished second and Haste Make Waste (Tim Roach) was third.

Two Birds Onestone remained undefeated on the year, as he is now seven-for-seven in 2023. The gelding is conditioned by 71 year-old trainer Carl Putnam Jr., who also owns and drives the pacer. Two Birds Onestone now boasts a resume of 20 lifetime starts, 19 wins and one second and earnings of $225,296. Two Birds Onestone was bred in Michigan by Brian Boring and Jennifer Vollmer.

Mega Diamond (Megatron-Getoutthediamonds) and Justin Irvine captured the $90,000 3-year-old filly pace in 1:59 4/5 in front-stepping fashion for breeder and owner Brett Boyd Racing, Inc. and trainer Brett Boyd. Mega Diamond held off a late surge by Grey Lingerie (Rick Dobson) who was second and Harper Jane (Charles Taylor) was third. It was Mega Diamond's fifth win in her seventh lifetime start.

The $90,000 2-year-old colt pace was taken by Mr Pnut (Manhardt-Marmaria), who closed well from third early in the mile to defeat Kourageous Key (Brad Kramer) and Isle of Man (Justin Irvine). Mr Pnut covered the mile in a new lifetime-best of 2:00 2/5 for trainer/driver Art McIlmurray and owner/breeder Staci Malady. It was his fourth win in just his eighth career start.

The $90,000 2-year-old filly pace was snagged by Flippin Lucky (Manhardt-Johnny Made Her) and Justin Irvine, who went wire-to-wire in 1:58 over Forever A Flirt (Brad Kramer) in second and Solidazabrickhouse (Don Harmon) third. Flippin Lucky was bred in Michigan by Libby Myers and is owned by Rick and Geoffrey Howles and trained by Peter Otten. Flippin Lucky garnered her third win in her sixth lifetime start.

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Bluemoon Glide (Blueglide Volo-Fox Valley Medusa) and owner/driver Rick Dobson (trainer Monica Krist) won for the eighth time in career start number 20 in the $90,000 3-year-old colt and gelding trot, tallying in coast-to-coast fashion in 2:00 3/5 over Head of Security (Art McIlmurray) and Smash the Rail (Scott Altizer), who were second and third, respectively. Bluemoon Glide was bred in Michigan by Orla Bontrager.

Krystals Jewel (Monsieur Claude-Krystals Affair) and driver Don Harmon took the $72,000 3-year-old filly trot in a new lifetime mark in 2:01 1/5, closing to win over runner-up Jolene Kay (Kody Massey) and third-place finisher Psalmsfortysixfive (David Lake). It was the sixth victory for Krystals Jewel, who was bred in Michigan by Matthew Bontrager and is owned and trained by Samuel Eicher.

The $72,000 2-year-old colt and gelding trot was taken by early third-place sitter Smashingoodmatch (Smashed-Agoodmatch), who closed to win over T L Waldo (Don Harmon) in second and Sonofaseecook (Marc St. Louis Jr.) in third. Smashingoodmatch is owned by Ted Boschma and trained by Kent Hess, and it was the gelding's fifth win in career start number eigh. He covered the distance in a time of 2:04 1/5, a new lifetime mark.

The $72,000 2-year-old filly trot was won by Tim Roach's and Willa Rousseau's Elian's Lightning (Southwind Elian-Show Me The Light) in 2:05 3/5, who also got away third in her race and managed to close for the win. Velma Kelly (Art McIlmurray) was second and Sunsetacres Girl (Don Harmon) finished third. Elian's Lightning is trained and driven by Tim Roach, and she captured her sixth career win in her eighth lifetime start.

--edited press release (Northville Downs)--