Plainville, MA — Despite being handicapped with post eight, Marquis Lafayette and driver Bruce Ranger went overland past the half and claimed victory in the $20,000 Open Handicap Trot at Plainridge Park on Thursday afternoon (June 13).

Remember Titans (Brett Beckwith) was giant off the gate, leaving four-wide from post seven to take the lead at the :27 quarter. Remember Titans then marched to the half in :56.2 before Marquis Lafayette moved first-up and advanced towards the front heading up the backstretch. Marquis Lafayette then wore down Remember Titans in the final turn, cleared the front at the top of the stretch, and held off a late closing Sidd Finch (Jimmy Hardy) to win by a quarter length in 1:53.4, which was a new seasonal mark.

Marquis Lafayette marched to victory in Thursday’s Open Handicap Trot at Plainridge. Tom Melanson photo.

Marquis Lafayette ($6.60) is owned by Greathorse and trained by Domenico Cecere.

Ranger and Cecere also teamed up to win with Sforza (1:55.4, $3.80) before Ranger completed his hat trick in the final event with the Robert Kenney-trained Barmaid Express (1:58.4, $7.60).

In the $17,000 conditioned trot for 6-year-olds and under, Enola (Nick Graffam) traded leads with Energysource (Bruce Ranger) before settling in second for the trip. Energysource then went :56.2 to the half and 1:24.3 to three-quarters, where Enola was out and challenging for the front once again while Cruising Tom (Matty Athearn) joined the fray three-deep. As they headed down the lane, Energysource put up a good fight, but Enola methodically edged her way to the front and won by three-quarters of a length in a new lifetime mark of 1:54.

It was the seventh win of the year for Enola ($5.40), who is owned by Burke Racing Stable and Weaver Bruscemi and trained by Joe Nelson.

There was one big winner in the Wicked Hi-5 pentafecta in race nine. The unique winning combination of 1-5-4-2-6 returned $5,855.22 for the 20-cent wager.

Racing at Plainridge Park resumes on Monday (June 17) with post time at 4 p.m.