Plainville, MA — Despite daylong rains that left the track rated sloppy, For Once Inmy Life turned in a career performance with a gate-to-wire performance that yielded a victory in Thursday’s (May 14) featured $25,000 Open Pace at Plainridge Park.
It was “Katy bar the door” for the five foes of For Once Inmy Life, whom Bruce Ranger rushed to the lead and then controlled the race with ease. With Blazing Home N (Larry Stalbaum) travelling in the garden spot, For Once Inmy Life scorched quarters of :26.1, :54.2 and 1:21.3 before taking his 1-length lead around the final turn. The domination continued at the top of the stretch, where For Once Inmy Life swelled up and bolted to the line 2-1/4 lengths clear in 1:49.1, home in :27.3.
The time was a new lifetime mark for the winner and fell only one-fifth of a second shy of the track record for older pacing geldings.
It was the fifth win in the last six starts posted by For Once Inmy Life ($4.20), who remains a perfect three-for-three at Plainridge Park this year. The 6-year-old gelded son of Downbytheseaside-Flyme To The Moon is owned by Winters Racing Stable and trained by Cory Stratton.
In the $22,000 Open II undercard event, Borninlockdown GB (Kevin Switzer Jr.) took over a quarter of the mile to get the front, but when he did, the race was over. Borninlockdown GB reached the half in :54.4 and three-quarters in 1:22.2 with a 3-length lead ahead of trailers who had no answers. When the race entered the stretch, Borninlockdown GB held Rockin On Venus (Shawn Gray) and Alex Having fun (Matty Athearn) at bay under mild Switzer urging, and closed out the deal with a 2-3/4-length win in a seasonal best 1:50.3.
It was the second win in the last three starts for Borninlockdown GB ($4.00), who is owned by Burke Racing and Weaver Bruscemi and trained by Joe Nelson.
Drivers Jacob Cutting, Nick Graffam, Bruce Ranger and Kevin Switzer Jr. and trainer Jimmy Nickerson all registered two wins apiece on Thursday.
Racing resumes at Plainridge Park on Monday (May 18) at 4 p.m.; there will be a $9,786 carryover in the Wicked Hi-5 pentafecta wager in the sixth race.
Free full-card past performance programs and replays for every live card of racing at Plainridge Park can always be accessed at plainridgeparkcasino.com.