Plainville, MA — Hespoisedtopounce A used a perfect trip to strike late and win the $25,000 Baystate Special pace for horses and geldings at Plainridge Park on Friday (Oct. 31) afternoon.
Hespoisedtopounce A (Matty Athearn) left sharply and took an early lead before getting to the quarter in :27.2. At that station, Whats For Suppaah (Jay Randall) was already out and rolling from the pocket to take over the point and skated to the half in :56 flat. As they headed on to the backstretch, ER Griffin (Nick Graffam), who had been parked since the start, was still outside third and had Varney (Mitchell Cushing) on his back loaded with pace.
When the race reached three-quarters in 1:24, Whats For Supaah was still comfortably in front while Varney tipped three-deep around ER Griffin, with Hespoisedtopounce A still in the pocket waiting to make his move. That wait ended near the top of the stretch when ER Griffin faded, leaving space for Athearn to tip to the outside for the drive home. As they made their way down the lane, Hespoisedtopounce A passed Whats For Supaah in deep stretch while holding off Varney to win by one-half length in 1:53.4.
It was the sixth win of the year for Hespoisedtopounce A ($7.60) who is owned by Tim Bojarski and Tony Gruppo and trained by Jimmy Nickerson.
Hespoisedtopounce A was only one of four wins Athearn had on Friday. He also won with The Unit (1:56.1, $14.00), Whata Foolbelieves (1:57.1, $16.00) and Andy Mac Hanover (1:54.2, $6.00) to round out his grand slam.
Earlier in the $22,500 upper-level conditioned pace, Sweet Jeff IR turned a fast third quarter into his sixth win of the year.
Sweet Jeff IR (Nick Graffam) got away third initially but pulled and bolted to the lead, passing Anvil Hands (Jim Hardy) at the quarter in :26.4. Now in control, Sweet Jeff IR got to the half in :54.4 with the field in single-file fashion and then reached three-quarters in 1:22.2 as he opened up three lengths on the approaching outer flow led by Patrickthepiranah A (Bruce Ranger) who was followed by Fourever Boy (Matty Athearn).
As the race went around the last bend, Sweet Jeff IR’s lead was still three lengths, but when they straightened for home, Fourever Boy was pacing up a storm and gaining ground with every stride. Fourever Boy went past Patrickthepiranah A was reeling in Sweet Jeff IR. But Sweet Jeff IR would not be beaten and tripped the light in 1:51.2 by three-quarters of a length.
Sweet Jeff IR ($4.00) is owned by Burke Racing and Weaver Bruscemi and trained by Joe Nelson.
Driver Kevin Switzer Jr. also had a big day in the bike scoring a hat trick, while trainers Jimmy Nickerson and Kevin Switzer each won two races during the proceedings.
Live racing will resume at Plainridge Park on Monday (Nov. 3) at a new earlier post time of 1 p.m., which will be the norm for the remainder of the meet.
Free full past performance programs and race replays for all live racing days at Plainridge Park can be found at plainridgeparkcasino.com.