Plainville, MA — After going four-for-four at Vernon Downs since late May, Makorori N came to Massachusetts and won his fifth straight race after taking the featured $17,000 conditioned pace at Plainridge Park on Thursday (July 16).
Makorori N (Shawn Gray) got away fifth and 12-1/2 lengths behind a speed battle between Sunsational (Bruce Ranger) and Lyons Honeymonster (Brad Irvine), who went toe to toe to the quarter in :26. Lyons Honeymonster finally relented to the pocket and Sunsational then led the pack to the half in :55.2 and three-quarters in 1:23.
Heading to five-eighths, an outer flow formed with Gracies Tough Guy (Kevin Switzer Jr.) pulling first ahead of Makorori N, who was now only 3 lengths behind the leader. At three-quarters, Lyons Honeymonster pulled the pocket and stalled in front of Gracies Tough Guy, forcing Makorori N three-deep. Then at the top of the lane, Makorori N ran down Sunsational while holding off the fast-closing Dead Mans Chain (Brett Beckwith) to win by a head in 1:52.1 and establish a new lifetime mark.
Makorori N ($5.20) is owned by Paul O’Neil and trained by Alicia Gray.
Earlier, in the $15,000 conditioned pace for 4-year-olds and under, Captain Rocknroll (Mitchell Cushing) went right to the front and cut quarters of :27.3, :55.4 and 1:23.2 before turning for home and holding off Lyons Blewbyu (Bruce Ranger) to win in a lifetime best 1:52.4.
Captain Rocknroll ($25.80) is owned by Mona Dodd and Joseph Bradeen and trained by Mike Cushing.
Captain Rocknroll was only one of four wins registered by Mitchell Cushing on Thursday, who had a natural grand slam in races 2 through 5. Cushing also won with Alvin Brickrock (1:52, $5.40), Twin B Jays (1:52.4, $12.60) and Heartofgold Devie (1:56.2, $7.20).
And like Captain Rocknroll, Heartofgold Devie is trained by Mike Cushing, making him the leading trainer for the afternoon.
Racing at Plainridge Park will resume on Sunday (July 19) at 2 p.m. for a special matinee card featuring the Grade 2 $300,000 Spirit of Massachusetts Trot and the Grade 3 $150,000 Clara Barton Distaff Pace.
Free full-card past performance programs and replays for every card of racing at Plainridge Park are available at plainridgeparkcasino.com.