Plainville, MA — Although not having won in the past several weeks, Jackson Cooper hasn’t been racing all that bad in the top class at Plainridge Park, and certainly not bad enough to be let go at 55-1. But that was the case on Thursday (Sept. 10), when the overlooked 4-year-old made everyone regret it after running away with the $25,000 Open Handicap Pace.
Nick Graffam floated Jackson Cooper off the gate from post 7 as Soho Spectre A (Brett Beckwith) out-dueled Wild Bill Wyatt (Mike Oosting) for the lead heading to the :26.3 quarter. But as soon as Soho Spectre A crossed over, Jackson Cooper rushed to the front and then never looked back. After getting to the half in :54.4 and then sprinting to three-quarters in 1:21.4, Jackson Cooper took a 1-length lead into the last turn and maintained it to the top of the stretch. There, the pocketed Soho Spectre A started gaining ground inside while Still Rollin N (Matty Athearn) was flying fast in the middle of the track. All three hit the line in close quarters, but Jackson Cooper hung on by a head and won in 1:50.2.
Jackson Cooper ($119.40), who set the 1:49.3 track record for 3-year-old pacing geldings last year, is owned by Jesmeral Stable and trained by Matty Medeiros.
There was also a $25,000 Open Handicap Trot on the card, and the lone mare, the Massachusetts-bred Corner Store, beat up on a field of boys for the third time this year.
Corner Store (Oosting) got away third as Spaaaanzao (Bruce Ranger) took the lead from Heavens Pic (Graffam) past the :27.1 quarter. But then Corner Store was quickly out and rolling to gain the top spot before the half. From there, Corner Store was on a mission as she opened up a 3-length advantage at three-quarters in 1:23.1, where Pepper Wow (Mitchell Cushing) moved into contention and was gaining from third. The race moved through the turn and into the stretch, where Spaaaanzano and Pepper Wow were closing the gap, but both came up a length short as Corner Store closed it out in 1:52.3.
Corner Store ($4.40), who set the track and stakes record for 3-year-old filly trotters in the Massachusetts Breeders Stakes last year, is owned by Paul Kelley Racing, Matthew Lamont, Ellen Palillo and Nancy Bauer. Paul Kelley trains the mare.
There was also one $15,000 Romper Room trot for 2-year-old Massachusetts-breds who are eligible for the $3.2 million (est.) Massachusetts Breeders Stakes, which start on Monday, Sept. 28. That race was won by I Like Green (Greenshoe-Royal Lady) and trainer/driver John Beckwith, who steered the colt to the front past the quarter and then led the rest of the way en route to a new lifetime mark of 1:58.
I Like Green ($2.60) is owned by Gary Mahany.
Drivers Matty Athearn, Brett Beckwith and Oosting all had two wins while 11 different trainers each had one wins apiece.
Racing at Plainridge Park will resume on Monday (Sept. 14) at 2 p.m. Free full-card past performance programs and replays for every card of racing at Plainridge Park are available at plainridgeparkcasino.com.