by Tim Bojarski, for the Standardbred Owners of Massachusetts

Plainville, MA— A pair of $10,000 condition trots headlined Thursday’s (April 13) card of racing at Plainridge Park and solid efforts were turned in by both Waiting On A Woman and Black Broadway in those events.

Tom Melanson photo

Waiting On A Woman collected career victory 59 at Plainridge Park on Thursday.

After facing many 10-horse fields in mid-level condition races at the Meadowlands all winter, Waiting On A Woman found an abbreviated field in a similar class much to his liking and proved it by winning his division convincingly.

Waiting On A Woman (Greg Merton) scooted out to a quick early lead that he promptly conceded to Just Make Believe (Eddie Davis Jr.). But as soon as that one seated, Merton waited for no one to sling-shot back to the front. From that point on the race was never in question.

Merton grabbed leather while cruising up the backside and that breather teased Old Oak (Steve Nason) to rush up on the outside. That challenge was short lived past three-quarters when Merton gave Waiting On A Woman his head and he simply trotted away. The pair opened up three lengths and won easily in 1:56. The time was a new seasonal mark for the winner.

It was the second win in 10 starts this year for Waiting On A Woman ($3.80) and 59th career victory overall. The 9-year-old gelded son of Northern Bailey is owned by Michael Polansky and is trained by Kyle Spagnola.

In the other $10,000 split, it didn’t take Black Broadway long to show her back-class as she went coast-to-coast in easy fashion to win her debut outing of 2017.

In what looked to be a training mile, driver Bruce Aldrich Jr. eased Black Broadway off the gate and allowed inside trotters to settle before motoring up to take the lead. From there with the whip on his shoulder and a snug hold of the lines, Aldrich cut even middle fractions of :29.2 and :29.3 to hold the field at bay to the top of the lane. Then without urging, Black Broadway motored easily to the wire under wraps to win in 1:57 flat.

A Hambletonian Oaks starter in 2016, Black Broadway ($3.20) is now one-for-one this year after posting her sixth lifetime win for owners Robert McHugh and Mike Eaton. Eaton also trains the winner.

The young meet’s leading driver Bruce Aldrich Jr. scored another hat-trick on Thursday while trainers Mike Eaton and Heidi Gibbs both harnessed two winners.

Live racing resumes at Plainridge Park on Monday (April 17) with the first post for the 11-race card is set for 4 p.m.