Plainville, MA — Overlooked by the betting faithful in first start back from a seven-month layoff, Rock Candy scored a sweet victory at 30-1 in the $25,000 Winners-Over pacing feature at Plainridge Park on Thursday afternoon (Nov. 4).

Rock Candy lifted off cover to upset at 30-1 in Thursday’s top pacing event at Plainridge Park. Tom Melanson photo.

Driver Nick Graffam got away sixth with Rock Candy as Hudson Phil (Jay Randall) and The Bird Dance N (Ron Cushing) traded the lead through a :26 quarter. Once in control, The Bird Dance N had a short breather to the half, where Wyatt J (Drew Campbell) moved first-up with pressure while Rock Candy took his cover.

At the three-quarter pole The Bird Dance N and Wyatt J were fully engaged, and they stayed that way around the last turn before Rock Candy tipped three-wide at the top of the stretch and brushed down the lane to win by a nose in 1:51.

It was the second win in only 12 starts this year for Rock Candy ($65.60), who is owned by the Jesmeral Stable and trained by Sheena Cohen.

In the $20,000 upper-level conditioned pace, Mansome (Bruce Ranger) made every station a winning one, winning by 3-1/2 lengths in 1:51.4. It was the sixth win of the year for Mansome ($5.00), who now boasts $90,342 in earnings for owners Bruce Weinstein and Elisha Lafreniere, who also trains the gelding.

Driver Shawn Gray had a big day at The Ridge and it was highlighted with a win in an upper-level $17,500 conditioned pace with King Spencer ($7.80), who ran off the screen after taking the lead from the pylon position. King Spencer got stronger as the mile went on and won easily by 1-1/4 lengths in 1:52.1.

It was the seventh win of the year for King Spencer, who is owned by Linwood Higgins and trained by Jim Dunn.

Gray also won with Chief Of Staff (1:54.3, $6.40), Dreamzzzz R For U (1:55, $17.20) and Jeff’s Journey (1:54.3, $8.40) to round out his grand slam.

Racing resumes at Plainridge Park on Friday (Nov. 5) with post time at 1 p.m.