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Three divisions of Winners-Over pacers went postward at Plainridge Park on Monday and despite an off-track due to early day rain, all three winners turned in impressive miles.
The top division went for $20,000 and Artful Way (Bruce Ranger) put a circle around the competition. Ranger hustled Artful Way to the front and with no resistance, put the field to sleep with a pedestrian half of :57. The pace picked up when Stihl N (Matty Athearn) came first over to challenge but Artful Way had things under control. After rebuffing Stihl N with a :27.2 third panel, Ranger stepped on the gas and Artful Way barrelled home in :26.4, thwarting the pocket sitting Sports Obsession (Drew Monti) in the stretch to by one length in 1:51.1.
A pair of $15,000 conditioned events for six-year-old and under pacers topped the bill at Plainridge Park on Thursday and both victors were no strangers to the winner’s circle.
In the male division, General Ward (Jim Hardy) took a quick lead off the gate and would not relinquish it the rest of the way. With Touch Of Character (Steve Wilson) parked outside, General Ward got to the quarter in a brisk :26.2 and the half in :54.1. Moving past the five-eighths General Ward turned back that challenge, but at the three-quarter pole horses were fanning three and four wide going into the last turn. By the top of the stretch General Ward continued to lead but Level Up (Shawn Gray) was making up ground fast. But as they paced to the wire General Ward refused to lose and hung on by a neck to win in 1:51.3.
Twenty top resident pacers of Plainridge Park were divided into three tiers of Winners-Over events that ranged in purse from $15,000 to $20,000 on Monday afternoon and the high-calibre card provided non-stop excitement for the large holiday crowd that was on hand to watch and wager.
In the featured $20,000 race, Stihl N got back to his winning ways in a come-from-behind upset victory.
Major Leaguer (Nick Graffam) took control of the race and led a single-file field to the half in a tepid :56.4. At the five-eighths pole, Sports Obsession (Drew Monti) pulled first over and Stihl N (Matty Athearn) quickly lined up behind him as the pace quickened substantially in the :27.1 third quarter. At that station Athearn tipped Stihl N three-deep and drew alongside Sports Obsession and Major Leaguer, and eventually pulled in front at the top of the stretch. Stihl N maintained his lead down the lane and held off a late charge by Franco Tristan N (Shawn Gray) to win by three-quarters of a length
After coming off a hard fought victory in the top trot last week, Nows The Moment came right back and scored an easy gate to wire win in the $25,000 Open Handicap trot at Plainridge Park on Friday afternoon.
Driver Mike Stevenson made it clear he would dictate the race and had Nows The Moment on the point immediately after the gate released the field. With a loose lead and little resistance from behind, Nows The Moment cut quarters of :27.1, :57 and 1:26.3 at three quarters, where he held a two length advantage over the pocket-sitting Joey Bats (Kevin Switzer Jr.). Turning for home Joey Bats tipped out and tried to cut into the margin, but there was no catching Nows The Moment as he cruised down the stretch to a two length victory in 1:54.1.