by Tim Bojarski, for the Standardbred Owners of Massachusetts

Plainville, MA — The old saying “there are horses for courses” couldn’t be proven more right than by Mambo Lindy who scored yet another decisive victory in the $15,000 Open Handicap trot at Plainridge Park on Thursday afternoon (Aug. 24).

Tom Melanson photo

Mambo Lindy toys with the field yet again at Plainridge Park on Thursday evening.

Seeking Steven (Chris Long) appointed himself dictator of fractions as he took the front without argument from anyone off the gate. He then led the field to a modest :57.2 half before Mambo Lindy (Greg Merton) pulled from fourth and started his trek to success.

With little effort and looking like he knows what to do, Mambo Lindy drew alongside Seeking Steven and continued on by as they rounded the final turn. At the head of the stretch, Mambo Lindy was clear and trotting his hips off while opening up a five-length advantage at the wire to win in 1:53.4.

Mambo Lindy ($2.20) has now won seven races this year, every one of them at Plainridge Park and those efforts have earned him $64,000. It was also his 21st lifetime win in only 35 starts. The 6-year-old gelded son of Donato Hanover is owned by Greathorse of Massachusetts and is trained by Frank Antonacci.

In the co-featured $14,000 conditioned trot, Tag Up And Go (Greg Merton) chased down the front-running Guiltywithanexcuse (Jim Hardy) from the three-eighths all the way to the wire and just got up in the final strides to win in 1:55.4. It was the seventh win of the year for Tag Up And Go ($2.80) who has now enriched his owners Lester Gelardi Jr. and Anthony Passafaro with $86,660 in proceeds this year.

Greg Merton and Mark Beckwith both chimed in with three driving wins on Thursday while trainer Monique Cohen also watched as three of her students entered the winner’s enclosure.
Live racing resumes at Plainridge Park on Friday afternoon (Aug. 25) with the first race post time set for 4 p.m.