Plainville, MA — For the fourth time in as many starts at Plainridge Park, For Once Inmy Life won the Massachusetts harness racing venue’s $27,500 Open for male pacers on Thursday (June 18), and each victory he achieved was in gate-to-wire fashion by open lengths.
For Once Inmy Life (Bruce Ranger) went right to the front and cut quarters of :26.2, :55.3 and 1:22.3 while Mydadsaid A (Brett Beckwith) took a pocket tour and did well to keep up. But when the race entered the far turn, For Once Inmy Life accelerated and pulled away by 3 lengths before turning for home in a :26.4 kicker to win in 1:49.2, marking his second sub-1:50 timing at Plainridge this year.
It was the 20th lifetime win for the heavily backed For Once Inmy Life ($2.20), who is owned by Winters Racing and trained by Cory Stratton.
There were also a pair of $25,000 secondary features on the program.
First, in the Open Pace for distaff participants, Mrs Cheese (Kevin Switzer Jr.) got away third as Intothemysticmoon (Bruce Ranger) got to the half in :55.2. It was there Switzer had Mrs Cheese out and rolling towards the leader and got within a length at three-quarters. The mares matched strides around the turn until they straightened for home, where Mrs Cheese ran down Intothemysticmoon at the line by a half length in 1:51.2.
It was the first Open win, although sixth of the year and second in a row for Mrs Cheese ($10.20), who is owned by Kellogg Racing Stable in partnership with trainer Jackie Greene.
Then, in the upper-level conditioned pace, Rockin On Venus (Bruce Ranger) and Hes Coming On (Mitchell Cushing) battled to the quarter in :25.4 before Hes Coming On took the lead and got to the half in :54.3. But there was no rest for the weary as Tenzing Bromac N (Ron Cushing) moved first-over and came right at Hes Coming On, pushing a :27 third panel. Hes Coming On and Tenzing Bromac N went toe to toe around the last bend and into the stretch, but Rockin On Venus found room between those two rivals and outpaced them both to the line in 1:49.4, which was a seasonal mark.
With the win, Rockin On Venus ($10.60) went over the half-million-dollar mark in lifetime earnings, now showing $505,185 on his card for owner Pollock Racing and trainer Enrico Robinson.
Drivers Beckwith and Ranger, along with trainers Robinson and Cory Stratton, all scored two victories apiece on Thursday.
Racing at Plainridge Park resumes on Friday (June 19) at 4 p.m.; there will be a $3,409 carryover in the Wicked Hi-5 in the sixth race.
Free full-card past performance programs and replays for every card of racing at Plainridge Park are available at plainridgeparkcasino.com.