Plainville, MA — The recently landed 4-year-old New Zealand-bred Johnny Lincoln N made a statement in his second start at Plainridge Park on Monday (Sept. 7) afternoon as he cruised to his first North American win in the $17,000 conditioned pacing feature and take a new lifetime mark in the process.
Mitchell Cushing floated Johnny Lincoln N off the gate and tangled with Be Ready To Rock (Matty Athearn) to the quarter in :27 before being able to clear in front of the grandstand. Once Settled on the point, Johnny Lincoln N was immediately challenged by the favored Dead Mans Chain (Brett Beckwith), who pushed the pace up the backside before fading at three-quarters in 1:22.3. Johnny Lincoln N started to pull away as he entered the turn and when he hit the stretch, had opened up a two length lead. Then as he motored down the lane, Johnny Lincoln N swelled up under a line drive and jogged home on top by 3-½ to win in a career best, 1:50.4.
Johnny Lincoln N ($9.20) is owned by Caldwell Mamie Racing and trained by Cory Stratton.
Cushing also put a new lifetime mark on D A Lets Dance, who like Johnny Lincoln N, ran off the screen in the $15,000 conditioned pace for 4-year-olds and under.
D A Lets Dance went right to the front, cutting quarters of :27.2, :56.1 and 1:25 before turning for home on top by three. As he paced down the lane he extended that lead to five at the line where he won in 1:53. D A Lets Dance ($2.60) is owned by Jeffrey Epstein and Steven Gondelman and trained by Jimmy Nickerson.
Cushing ended the day with a grand slam in the bike, including a natural hat trick in races four, five and six. Besides the already mentioned Johnny Lincoln N and D A Lets Dance, Cushing finalized his four-bagger with Colt Bennett (1:52.4, $9.00) and Arthur Idlam (1:53.4, $12.60).
There was also a $15,000 Starter Allowance on Monday that was won by another front-runner who took a lifetime mark, Jettingtomalibu. Leaving from post one, Jettingtomalibu (Bruce Ranger) set fast fractions of :26.1, :53.2 and 1:21.3 before turning for home and holding off the fast-closing Anvil hands (Jimmy Hardy) by a quarter length in 1:50.4, his best clocking ever. Jettingtomalibu ($5.00) is owned by John Barnard and trained by Irwin Rosenthal.
Racing will resume at Plainridge Park on Tuesday (Sept. 8) at 2 p.m.
Free full card past performance programs for every live card of racing at Plainridge Park can always be downloaded at their website (plainridgeparkcasino.com) under the “Racing” tab. You can also watch all the race replays on that same page.