Plainville, MA — Continuing his dominant season at Plainridge Park, Memorynimagination scored his third consecutive victory in the featured $25,000 Open Trot on Tuesday (May 19).
Matty Athearn left from post 7 with Memorynimagination and dropped in fourth as A New Leader (Mitchell Cushing) led the race and marched off quarters of :27, :55.3 and 1:23.4. Heavens Pic (Nick Graffam) applied pressure during the third quarter and continued to do so into the turn, but he also provided cover for Memorynimagination, who was second-over in fourth and gearing up for the stretch run.
When the race came off the final turn, Memorynimagination left his cover for a clear path down the center of the track and trotted by everyone to the wire, where he won by a length in 1:53.3 and tied his lifetime mark.
It was the fifth win in the last six starts and seventh win of the year for Memorynimagination ($3.20), who is owned by Joe Trice and trained by Jimmy Nickerson.
In the $17,000 conditioned trot for 5-year-olds and under, it took Denarius (Bruce Ranger) over a quarter of the mile to grab the lead, but she did so in front of the grandstand and led the field to the half in :57. Denarius trotted smartly on the point up the backstretch, where Fairytale Moni (Nick Graffam) moved first-over into contention during the :28.1 third split. Fairytale Moni eventually drew alongside Denarius on the last turn, and the two fought hard from there. The pair trotted side by side into the lane where Fairytale Moni pulled ahead by a length just before the line and won in a lifetime best 1:54.
Fairytale Moni ($4.20) is owned by her trainer, George Ducharme, in partnership with Jim Winske, Jason Ash and Sal Vullo.
As a product of the Massachusetts Standardbred breeding program, Fairytale Moni will be competing later this year in the $3.2 million Massachusetts Breeders Stakes, which begins on Monday, Sept. 28.
There was a pair of major upsets on the day’s program. In the third race, 50-1 Peace Field (Kevin Switzer Jr.) brushed from sixth at three-quarters to become a first-time career winner in 1:56.1.
Peace Field, who is owned by Jack Clements II and trained by Kim Ireland, returned a whopping $106.40 for a $2 win bet.
Then, in the seventh race, Comeonover Hanover (Nick Graffam) sat a pocket trip behind Cousin Halifax (Mitchell Cushing) until the last turn when he tipped and bolted down the lane a clear winner in 1:56.
Comeonover Hanover, who is owned by Perry Elkins and trained by Andy Gardner, paid $63.20 for the win.
On the strength of her two-win performance on Tuesday, trainer Gretchen Athearn eclipsed the $8 million mark in purse earnings. Athearn, who has been training since 1996, sent Wendell Blue Chip and Bravado to the winner’s circle, both of whom were driven by her son, Matty Athearn, who scored an overall hat trick in the bike during the afternoon.
Racing at Plainridge Park resumes on Thursday (May 21) at 4 p.m.; there will be a $14,986 carryover in the Wicked Hi-5 in the sixth race.
Free full card past performance programs and race replays for every live card of racing at Plainridge Park can be accessed at