Plainville, MA — For the second week in a row, Lusaka N won in gate-to-wire fashion at Plainridge Park, only on Tuesday (Nov. 10) he did it with a new lifetime mark and in runaway fashion as he crushed in the featured $25,000 Open Handicap Pace.
The short five-horse feature field was scratched down to a four-horse affair, and Lusaka N (Nick Graffam) sat at the tail as Funtime Bayama (Brett Beckwith) motored to the half in :54.2. But Lusaka N moved quickly from there and drew alongside Funtime Bayama as they passed three-quarters in 1:22.1. Then, Lusaka N took control in the turn, opened up 2 lengths at the top of the stretch, and bolted home to win by 5-1/2 lengths in 1:49.3.
It was the eighth win of the year for Lusaka N ($16) for owner Pollack Racing. Enrico Robinson trains the winner.
Later, in the $22,000 upper-level conditioned pace, Mr Huggins (Kyle Swift) sat second behind Zeppole Hanover (Brett Beckwith) to the :27.4 quarter but pulled quickly at that station to take command in front of the stands. Mr. Huggins then paced alone on the point to three-quarters, where he was then challenged by Still Rollin N (Matty Athearn), who had moved first-over and was full of pace. Still Rollin N stayed alongside Mr Huggins around the turn, but when they straightened for home, Mr Huggins took off and stretched out to a 1-3/4-length win in 1:52.3.
Mr Huggins ($9) is owned by Gary Smith and trained by Larry Stalbaum.
Drivers Matty Athearn and Brett Beckwith and trainers Gretchen Athearn, John DiStefano and Enrico Robinson all posted two wins apiece.
Racing at Plainridge Park will resume on Thursday (Nov. 12) at 1 p.m.
Free full-card past performance programs and replays for every card of racing at Plainridge Park are available at plainridgeparkcasino.com.