Now’s The Moment breaks Plainridge track record
May 31, 2018,by Tim Bojarski, for the Standardbred Owners of Massachusetts
Plainville, MA — Now’s The Moment stole the show during Thursday’s (May 31) all-trot card when he captured the $20,000 Highland Light Late Closer Trot final at Plainridge Park and set a new track standard in the process.
Tom Melanson photo
Now’s The Moment set a new track record for 3-year-old trotting geldings at Plainridge Park.
Mike Stevenson left with Now’s The Moment and led every step of the way. With the best view, they toured the facility in fractions of :27.2, :58.2 and 1:26 before turning for home. With no challengers in sight, Now’s The Moment stretched out to a four-length advantage and won in 1:55.1.
The winning time was not only a new lifetime mark for Now’s The Moment; it was also a new Plainridge Park track record for 3-year-old trotting geldings.
It was the second consecutive win for Now’s The Moment ($2.60), who is owned by Sonya MacDonald and trained by Mr. Allison MacDonald.
The $20,000 final of the Ralph Waldo Emerson Trot was won by the Massachusetts-bred Pirate, who scored in a sharp off-the-pace finish.
Tom Melanson photo
Pirate (foreground) circled the field on the far turn to take the Ralph Waldo Emerson Trot final.
Manssive (Ron Cushing) out-left The Lindy Treaty (Shawn Gray) and trotted strongly on the lead for three-quarters of a mile until Jericho (Joe DiStefano) pushed the issue at that station. Pirate (Drew Campbell), who was seventh at the time, tipped three-deep around a stagnant outer flow and was gaining momentum around the far turn. By the head of the stretch, Pirate was four-wide and under a full head of steam, eventually engaging and then passing Jericho to win by a length in 1:55.3.
It was the third win of the year for Pirate ($27.20), who is owned by Kathy Beaman and Earl Beaman and trained by Ivan Davies.
In the $14,000 Winners-Over Trot, Buff (Greg Merton) got to the lead past the quarter and was never headed from there. After putting away a challenge from Platoon Seelster (Ron Cushing) by the head of the lane, Buff responded to mild urging from Merton and held off a late rally from Golden Tate (Nick Graffam) to win by half a length in 1:54.3, which was a new seasonal mark.
Buff ($4.00) now has four wins this year for owners Bill Reepmeyer LLC, Jackie Rousse Stables LLC, Frank Witz and Jill Witz and trainer Jackie Greene.
Greg Merton and Drew Campbell each had three winners on Thursday’s card.
Racing resumes at Plainridge Park on Friday afternoon (June 1) at 4 p.m.