Plainville, MA — A pair of $16,000 upper-level conditioned paces were featured at Plainridge Park on Monday (May 19) afternoon and both winners were piloted by the 12th all-time leading dash winner in North America, Walter Case Jr.
In the first event, ER Griffin tripped-out to his first win of the year.
ER Griffin sat in the pocket and let Rooster Bennett (Nick Graffam) do all the heavy lifting as he led the field through quarters of :27.1, :55.1 and 1:23.3 before rounding the final turn. As the race made its way into the stretch, Case pulled ER Griffin and ran down Rooster Bennett at the line by three-quarters of a length in a season’s best 1:52.1.
ER Griffin ($5.20) is owned by his trainer, Mike Eaton, in partnership with Bob McHugh, Robert Griffin and Russell Young.
Then in the second split, Warrawee Yale wore down the leader in the stretch to nab his first win of the year.
Skyway Masterpiece (Kevin Switzer Jr.) claimed the lead off the gate and paced strongly to the half in :56.1. It was there that Warrawee Yale pulled first-over from third and advanced towards the leader, eventually drawing even with Skyway Masterpiece before three-quarters. The pair then paced stride for stride around the final bend, but when they entered the stretch, Warrawee Yale pulled away to an easy 2-1/2 length win in 1:52.4, which was also a seasonal mark.
Warrawee Yale ($10.60) is owned and trained by Gerald Mac Kenzie.
After Monday’s action, Case now boasts 11,497 trips to the winner’s enclosure in his career, which places him ninth all-time among still active drivers in North America.
In the $15,000 Starter Allowance for Plainridge Park horses, Hespoisedtopounce A (Matty Athearn) bolted to the front, cut quarters of :27, :55.3 and 1:24, and then cruised home under wraps on top by four to win in 1:52.3, for yet another seasonal mark.
Hespoisedtopounce A ($5.00) is owned by Tim Bojarski and Tony Gruppo and trained by Jimmy Nickerson.
Nick Graffam was the leading driver at The Ridge on Monday after his sulky-sitting hat trick while 11 different trainers each won one race apiece.
Racing resumes at Plainridge Park on Tuesday (May 20) at 4 p.m. and there will be a $1,896 carryover in the Wicked Hi-5 pentafecta in the sixth race.
Free full past performance programs and race replays for all live racing days at Plainridge Park can be found at: plainridgeparkcasino.com.