Plainville, MA – Moonshine Kisses made his first 2022 Plainridge Park start a memorable one after scorching the oval in 1:49.3 to tie the track record for aged pacing horses in the $20,000 Open pace on Monday afternoon (Aug. 1).

Moonshire Kisses tied the track record for older horses in 1:49.3 in the $20K Open Pace today at Plainridge. Tom Melanson photo.

Moonshine Kisses (Jay Randall) led the field to the quarter in :26.2 before yielding the front to Points North (Brett Beckwith) before the half. After passing that station in :54.2,

Hespoisedtopounce A (Drew Monti) pulled first-over from third and pushed the pace even more to three-quarters in 1:21.4. Around the last turn Hespoisedtopounce A tired, leaving a clear lane for the pocket-sitting Moonshine Kisses to pull at the top of the stretch. Once out and rolling, Moonshine Kisses swelled up and barrelled to the wire on top by 4-3/4 lengths in 1:49.3.

Besides tying Givenupdreaming’s track record of 1:49.3 for aged pacing horses set in 2016, Moonshine Kisses also gave himself a new lifetime mark on the strength of his performance.

It was the 30th career win for Moonshine Kisses ($5.40) and it pushed his lifetime earnings to $309,169 for owner Kellogg Racing Stables. Jackie Greene trains the record setter.

Later in the $17,500 upper-level condition pace, Rock Diamonds N (Ron Cushing) took the field to the quarter in :26.3 where Artful Way (Jay Randall) was out and rolling to claim the top spot in front of the grandstand heading to the half. As they made their way up the backstretch, Sundown Kid (Nick Graffam) was now moving on the rim with Skyway Victor (Drew Campbell) on his back.

Sundown Kid grabbed the front before three-quarters and Skyway Victor was now second, but still parked. Heading into the stretch, Skyway Victor drew even with Sundown Kid while Rock Diamonds N tipped three-wide and was only a length behind. As they forged towards the wire, Campbell kept Skyway Victor on his task and he won by a neck in 1:51.2, which was a new seasonal mark.

Skyway Victor picked up his third win of the season with a win by a neck in 1:51.2 today at the Ridge. Tom Melanson photo.

It was the third win of the year for Skyway Victor ($11.80) who is owned by his trainer Mark Eaton along with Robert Griffin.

Nick Graffam was the leading reinsman on Monday with two wins at the helm while nine different trainers claimed one win apiece during the proceedings.

Live racing resumes at Plainridge Park on Tuesday afternoon (Aug. 2) with post time at 4 p.m., however there is one schedule change for later this week.

Due to the high temperatures predicted for Thursday afternoon (Aug. 4), Plainridge Park and the Harness Horseman’s Association of New England have agreed to cancel Thursday’s card. The track will consolidate the Friday (Aug. 5) card with classes originally scheduled for Thursday and offer a full 12-race card on Friday.

Free full past performance race programs for all live race days can be downloaded by visiting the track’s website at plainridgeparkcasino.com and clicking the “Racing” tab.