Plainville, MA — Lifetime marks by feature winners and big win numbers posted by top horsemen highlighted the Monday (June 16) card at Plainridge Park.
Starting with the featured $25,000 Group One Winners-Over trot, Big Box Hanover benefitted from a perfect trip behind a heavy duty speed duel to register a victory and new lifetime mark.
Newcomer Duke Lavictoire (Matty Athearn) went down the road, parking Deadline Hall (Mitchell Cushing) through stiff quarters of :26.2, :54 and 1:22.3 while Big Box Hanover (Nick Graffam) stayed snug in the pocket. After coming off the last turn, Deadline Hall faded, allowing Big Box Hanover to pull and find room to trot forward. That in turn, left a clear path for Platinum AS (Brett Beckwith) to bolt up the inside and form a two-pronged attack against the hard-worked Duke Lavictoire.
The three horses fought hard down the lane before Duke Lavictoire finally tired, leaving Big Box Hanover and Platinum AS to argue for the win. When the pair tripped the light, Big Box Hanover was the victor by a head in 1:53, which was a career best.
It was the 57th career win for Big Box Hanover ($13.80) who is owned and trained by Larry Stalbaum.
The secondary featured $22,000 Group Two Winners-Over trot went to A New Leader (Mitchell Cushing) who led at every station in times of :27.1, :56.1 and 1:24.1 before scooting home in :28.4 and a 1:53 win, which was also a new lifetime mark.
A New Leader ($3.60) is owned by his driver/trainer Cushing, in partnership with Ray Lasky.
Trainer Domenico Cecere came into the day sporting a perfect 12-for-12 record for the current Plainridge meet and he extended it to 15-for-15 as he scored a natural hat trick in races two through four. Cecere registered wins with Signature By Lindy (1:57.3, $3.20), Global Heritage (1:57, $2.40) and Tactical Moni (1:55.1, $2.40). All three horses are Massachusetts-bred and eligible to the lucrative Massachusetts Breeders Stake that will be held at Plainridge Park later this year.
Cecere’s 2025 win streak did come to an end in race five when aged trotter Marquis Lafayette finished fourth. However he did win the eighth race with Murial (1:54, $3.40) giving him a training grand slam for the afternoon and putting him at 16 wins out of 17 starts for this meet.
Brett Beckwith was the leading driver on Monday as he also scored a grand slam during the afternoon. Besides teaming Cecere’s Tactical Moni and Murial, Beckwith also scored with Bill Bauer (1:53.4, $4.20) and DC Anna (1:55.3, $4.60).
Live racing will resume at Plainridge Park on Tuesday (June 17) at 4 p.m.
Free full past performance programs and race replays for all live racing days at Plainridge Park can be found at plainridgeparkcasino.com.