Plainville, MA — On a somewhat homogenous card consisting of lower rated Trackmaster races, Matty “Ice” Athearn and “The Legend”, Bruce Ranger, were the real masters on the track after they both registered driving hat tricks during the afternoon (Sept. 26), accounting for 66% of the wins on the nine-race program.
Athearn won with Valentine Rose (1:53.4, $10.80) in a new lifetime mark for trainer Jimmy Nickerson for owners Curran Racing and Nickerson Racing, along with Quite Beachy (1:53.3, $10.20) for trainer Zach Gray and owner Jordan Derue, and Moms Cash (1:59.4, $4.60) for trainer Lisa Watson and owner Joel Wheeler.
Ranger won with Summer Prayer (1:58.3, $7.40) for trainer John DiStefano and owners DiStefano and Son Racing and Eric Dickson, Like A Warrior (1:56.1, $4.80) for trainer Catherine Bouthillier and owner Marc Bouthillier, and Gabe Hanover (1:54.2, $3.60) for trainer James Dunn and owner Bradley Veilleux.
There was no duplicity among trainers as nine different conditioners each won one race apiece.
Live racing will resume at Plainridge Park on Monday (Sept. 29) at 2 p.m. when the $2.4 million Massachusetts Breeders Stakes kick off their 2025 season and feature the best state-bred 2-year-olds in the Commonwealth. There are a total of seven stake events, two non-betting before the first race and then the first five races on the regular card.
Free full past performance programs and race replays for all live racing days at Plainridge Park can be found at plainridgeparkcasino.com.