Trio of Open events to headline Northville opening weekend
At 0h24, on April 2, 2021 • By NORTHVILLE DOWNS
A trio of Open events will serve as the marquee races during the opening weekend of the 2021 spring meeting at Northville Downs, with races taking place at the suburban Detroit facility on Friday (April 2) and Saturday (April 3) evenings.
Friday’s co-features are the $8,000 Fillies and Mares Open Pace and the $8,000 Open Handicap Trot, slotted as the eighth and ninth races on an 11-race program.
In the distaff feature, Another Beach Day has been installed the 8-5 favorite after racing all winter at Florida’s Pompano Park and will start from the pole in the field of seven. The 5-year-old daughter of Somebeachsomewhere last won on March 9, defeating conditioned company at Pompano in 1:54.2.
Kaitlyn Rae is the elder stateswoman in the field at the age of 12, and she is one of five mares to make their 2021 debut in this event. The Michigan-bred daughter of Cheyenne Rei is the richest member of the field with $457,810 in career earnings, and she has 66 wins to her credit. Todd Warren will drive Kaitlyn Rae from post three for owner-trainer Riley Asher-Stalbaum.
The Open Handicap Trot will see Ohio fair circuit champion Timestorm make his 4-year-old debut against six rivals. The son of Stormin Normand won 22 of 31 races in his first two seasons of competition, primarily racing on the Ohio fair circuit. His biggest win to date was the $40,000 Ohio Fair Championship on Oct. 10, 2020, at MGM Northfield Park, which he won in a lifetime best 1:55.1. Nineteen-year-old Justin Irvine will drive Timestorm from post six for trainer Kent Hess.
