by Joe Hartmann, for Plainridge Racecourse

Plainville, MA –– In just his fourth year of driving, Todd O’Dea is well on his way to a career year.

The 33-year-old native of Gardner Massachusetts, who began driving and training just three years ago, had a Memorial Day holiday weekend to remember, scoring driving and training doubles on both the Saturday afternoon and Monday Memorial Day cards at Plainridge Racecourse.

Saturday afternoon, O’Dea, who entered 2004 with just 12 career victories, drove Yonder Hall, a son of Conway Hall, to a 2:02¹ victory in a conditioned trot and Henna Caffe, a daughter of Keystone Raider, to a 2:01² victory in a conditioned fillies and mares event.

Following Saturday’s success, O’Dea turned the double trick again on Monday afternoon. Early on the Memorial Day card, O’Dea drove Eicarls W A G, a son of No Nukes, to a 1:57³ victory in a conditioned pace. Four races later, O’Dea completed his holiday grand slam by driving Master Zig to a 1:58⁴ victory in a conditioned/claiming trot.

The four wins over the weekend gave O’Dea nine for 2004, already surpassing his entire 2003 total of eight, the most he had scored in any one year.

In the featured event on the Saturday afternoon card, driver-trainer Paul Magan steered Bruce Polishook’s Idyl River Bonnie to a narrow 1:59 victory over Fun Message and Binny’s Spirit in a $3,500 Fillies & Mares Invitational Trot.

The Monday afternoon, Memorial Day card was highlighted by the second leg of the 3-4 The Money Series as driver Brad Irvine drove favored Harley David to a 1:54³ victory over Eicarls Ramrod and JB’s Lion King.

Tuesday afternoon, in the $6,000 Open Trot, Drew Campbell drove Sent From Above to a come-from-behind victory over Flashy Message and CR Dawn Patrol in 1:57⁴.

In the $7,000 Open Pace, Bob Sumner drove Master Mover A to a one length victory over Dexters Lifeline and Satin Time N in 1:53³.

Located conveniently between Boston and Providence, Plainridge Racecourse offers live racing three days per week and the most extensive menu of harness, thoroughbred and quarter horse racing in the country, seven days a week. Post time Monday, Tuesday and Saturday afternoons is 4:00 p.m.