by Tim Bojarski, for the Standardbred Owners of Massachusetts

Plainville, MA — A Nashty Business rolled into Plainridge Park last week from a multi-track sojourn that included three wins in two countries. He continued the streak at The Ridge in his track debut and returned to defend it this week in the top class and came away with his fifth straight win, taking the $14,000 Open Handicap Trot on Thursday afternoon (Oct. 19).

Tom Melanson photo

A Nashty Business collects his fifth straight win on Thursday afternoon.

It was all A Nashty Business (Chris Long) from the start as he smoked to the quarter in :26.4. From there Long kept him in hand and rated an even, yet speedy mile. He rolled down to the half in :55.2 and three-quarters in 1:23.3 and had a two-length lead coming into the stretch.

With minor urging from Long, A Nashty Business kept his mind on his business and won with confidence in 1:54.1.

It was the seventh win of the year for A Nashty Business ($6.20) who now has $26,507 on his card in 2017. The 8-year-old son of Amrbro Nash is owned by William Sartin and trained by Joe De Carlo.

In the co-featured $12,000 conditioned trotting event, Dony Andreas (Mike Stevenson) sat a two-hole trip the entire mile behind Just Make Believe (Bruce Aldrich Jr.) before popping the pocket in the stretch to capture a head victory in 1:54.4.

The seventh win of the year was also a new lifetime mark for the winner. Dony Andreas ($22.00) is owned and trained by Robert Marston.

Long led all drivers on Thursday with three wins.

Racing resumes at Plainridge Park on Friday afternoon at 2:30 p.m.