Thursday was the first day of Spirit of Massachusetts week at Plainridge Park and enhanced purses were in effect for all races leading up to the $250,000 Spirit trot on Sunday (July 25). That made the day s featured condition pace worth $18,000 and it took a career best effort from Level Up to snare the winner’s share of the money.
Level Up (Shawn Gray) grabbed an easy lead from post two and made his way to the :27 quarter unmolested. Bettor In Cash (Drew Monti) had also left from post eight and found himself parked, with no choice but to move up in the breeze. By the time the race hit the half, Bettor In Cash reached Level Up’s wheel and he continued to gain incrementally moving up the backstretch.
Mansome made a bold uncovered move in the last half of the mile to overpower a field of top pacers and win the $20,000 winners-vver feature race at Plainridge Park on Monday afternoon.
Rock Diamonds N (Ron Cushing) led to the quarter where Lake Charles (Shawn Gray) pulled and brushed to the front. Positions remained unchanged until the five-eighths where Mansome (Kevin Switzer, Jr.) pulled first-over on the attack.
The two horses paced in tandem around the far turn and to the top of the lane where Mansome manned-up. He put away Lake Charles and then held off a late closing kick from Rock Diamonds N to win by 1-1/2 lengths in 1:51.2.
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Winding Hill had won three straight top class trots at Plainridge Park before faltering from post seven last week. But the drought was short as the venerable 10-year-old gelding got back to his winning ways in the $15,000 Winners-Over Handicap trot at The Ridge on Friday afternoon.
Winding Hill (Drew Monti) was snatched off the gate and settled in fifth while stablemate Only Passing Through (Nick Graffam) took over as master of fractions. Under his direction, the single-file six-pack sauntered to the half in :57.3. Chav Hanover (Bruce Ranger) was first to pull and Winding Hill was obliged to follow as the group made their way up the backstretch.
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