Plainville, MA — Pollack Racing and trainer Enrico Robinson stole the show at Plainridge Park on Thursday (Sept. 24) after they won the pair of $23,000 Open Handicaps that topped the card, with both winners putting forth outstanding efforts.
It was ladies first as a full field of eight went behind the gate in the Fillies and Mares Open, which Take Your Pick won in a gate-to-wire effort.
Take Your Pick and driver Nick Graffam took the lead from Elegant A (Bruce Ranger) as they passed the quarter in :27, and they then backed down the half to :55.1. Acushla Machree N (Mitchell Cushing) was first to pull from fourth and had Royally Hot (Michael Oosting) on her back as they motored up the backside.
Positions remained stagnant as they passed three-quarters in 1:22.3, and Take Your Pick continued to pace strongly around the far turn. But Acushla Machree N, Elegant A and Royally Hot were breathing right down her neck and not letting her get away. When the race turned for home, the three in chase continued to gain ground all the way to the wire, but Take Your Pick refused to lose and crossed the line ahead by a neck in 1:50.1.
It was the second straight win for Take Your Pick ($10), who took her lifetime mark of 1:49.4 at Plainridge just last week.
Then the boys got together next in the Open, where track record holder Soho Spectre A registered another sub-1:50 win.
Soho Spectre A (Matty Athearn) parked Tenzing Bromac N (Ron Cushing) to the quarter in :26 before releasing him to the front. Tenzing Bromac N then took the group to the half in :54 before Lusaka N (Bruce Ranger) pulled first-over and advanced to second while pushing the pace in that split to :27.2 while his stablemate, Soho Spectre A, continued to draft in the pocket.
Tenzing Bromac N turned back the Lusaka N threat at the top of the stretch, but that’s also where Soho Spectre A found room along the pegs and swelled up to pull away from Tenzing Bromac N and the late-closing So Rock N Roll to win by a length in 1:49.2.
It was the seventh win of the year for Soho Spectre A, who returned $12.60 to win.
Nick Graffam was the leading driver on Thursday as he posted a grand slam. Aside from Take Your Pick, Graffam also won with Peace Field (1:56, $2.60), The World Owes Me (1:55.2, $13.60) and Bill Bauer (1:54.2, $2.20).
Trainer Jimmy Nickerson, like Robinson, registered two wins on the program.
Racing at Plainridge Park will resume on Monday (Sept. 28) at 2 p.m. and will feature the first leg of 2-year-old races of the $3.2 million (est.) Massachusetts Breeders Stakes. Free full-card past performance programs and replays for every card of racing at Plainridge Park are available at plainridgeparkcasino.com.