Plainville, MA — For the second week in a row, For Once Inmy Life went coast to coast and won the $25,000 Open Handicap pacing feature at Plainridge Park on Monday (April 20).
Bruce Ranger left hard with For Once Inmy Life and seated Binge On Yankee (Mitchell Cushing) and Mr. Mclaren N (Larry Stalbaum), who would both then follow him for the rest of the race. For Once Inmy Life cruised through quarters of :26.2, :55 and 1:22.4 before getting a challenge from Hunting Zone (Shawn Gray), who made a first-over blitz on the backstretch and into the far turn. But that turn is also where Hunting Zone was put away as For Once Inmy Life was on a mission. As they turned for home, no one had any answers for the leader and For Once Inmy Life paced home unaccosted by 1-3/4 lengths in 1:50.3.
For Once Inmy Life ($4.40) is owned by Winters Racing and trained by Cory Stratton.
There were also three $17,000 conditioned pacing events. Two for 5-year-olds and under and one upper-level for older starters.
In the first for the five and under class, Confederatestar N (Matty Athearn) took the lead as they passed the eighth pole and marched off quarters of :27.1, :55.3 and 1:23.2 while Wunderkindbluechip (Mitchell Cushing) sat patiently in the pocket until they entered the last turn. That’s where Cushing tipped Wunderkindbluechip and drew to within a length of the leader. But that leader responded quickly to thwart the challenge and Confederatestar N paced away under a line drive to win in 1:51.4.
It was the third North American win in only six starts for the recently landed Confederatestar N ($2.60) who is owned by Richard Poillicci and trained by Gretchen Athearn.
Later in the second division, Liam’s Ace (Matty Athearn) got away fourth as Bartertown (Shawn Gray) and Whats For Suppaah (Mitchell Cushing) traded leads in the first quarter mile. Whats For Suppaah then led the field to the half in :56.3 before Liam’s Ace pulled first-over passing that station. Liam’s Ace continued to gain ground on Whats For Suppaah up the backside and drew even in the third turn. When they entered the stretch the pair then battled to the line where Liam’s Ace got the advantage by a nose in 1:53.2.
Liam’s Ace ($8.20) is owned by Maryann Tompkins and trained by Eric Bickmore.
Then the upper level class went postward and Rockin On Venus (Shawn Gray) got away second behind Virtual Horizon (Drew Monti) who was a loose leader in :27.4 and :56.1 before the parked out Jettingtomalibu (Matty Athearn) drew near and forced a quick :27.3 third panel. In the last turn, Jettingtomalibu faded off, leaving a clear path for Rockin On Venus to pull and take his shot. Gray pulled him and paced alongside Virtual Horizon stride for stride down the stretch, pushed ahead by a quarter of a length and won in 1:52.1
Rockin On Venus ($6.80) is owned by Pollack Racing and trained by Enrico Robinson.
Matty Athearn led all drivers with three wins on Monday while Cory Stratton bested all trainers, sending three from his barn for win photos, including one he drove himself.
Racing resumes at Plainridge Park on Tuesday (April 21) at 4 p.m. and there will be a $6,470 carryover in the Wicked Hi-5 pentafecta wager in the sixth race.
Free full card past performance programs for every live card of racing at Plainridge Park can always be downloaded at their website (plainridgeparkcasino.com) under the “Racing” tab. You can also watch all the race replays on that same page.