Plainville, MA — Memorynimagination has been a force this year at Plainridge Park and on Tuesday (May 12) registered his third top-class victory by winning the $25,000 Open Trot.
Matty Athearn sent Memorynimagination right to the front ahead of Mocha Java (Jay Randall) and then grabbed leather through soft fractions of :28 and :57.4. But as the race proceeded onto the second half, things began to pick up.
Balenciaga (Drew Monti) pulled from third and applied some pressure through the :28.1 third quarter, with Heaven’s Pic (Nick Graffam) on his back and Mocha Java still in the pocket as they went into the final turn. When the field entered the stretch, Memorynimagination was still being pursued by Mocha Java and Heaven’s Pic, but trotted home with authority to win by 1-1/2 lengths in 1:54.3, wa new seasonal mark.
It was the fourth win in the last five starts and sixth win of the year for the heavily-backed Memorynimagination ($2.40), who is owned by Joe Trice and trained by Jimmy Nickerson.
In the secondary featured $14,000 conditioned trot, Fairytale Moni (Nick Graffam) got away second behind Brewster Baker (Brad Irvine) but moved to the front as the race passed the stands the first time. Fairytale Moni then went to the half in :57 and three-quarters in 1:26 as she opened up a gapped advantage. After rounding turn three, Fairytale Moni bolted away from the field and cruised home on top by 6-3/4 lengths to win in a lifetime best 1:55.
Fairytale Moni ($2.40) is owned by her trainer, George Ducharme, in partnership with Jim Winske, Jason Ash and Sal Vullo.
The Massachusetts-bred Fairytale Moni is eligible for the lucrative $3.2 million Massachusetts Breeders Stakes, which kicks off Sept. 28.
Drivers Nick Graffam and Kevin Switzer Jr. found the winner’s circle three times each on Tuesday while trainer Jimmy Nickerson bested his peers with two victories of his own during the program.
Racing at Plainridge Park resumes on Thursday (May 14) at 4 p.m.; there will be a $8,535 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 always be accessed at plainridgeparkcasino.com.