Rock Diamonds N rolls to Plainridge feature win

Plainville, MA — In what could only be described as a powerful performance, Rock Diamonds N toyed with a top field of pacers at Plainridge Park on Monday afternoon (June 3) and came away with his third consecutive win after taking the $14,000 Winners-Over Handicap in gate-to-wire fashion.

Rock Diamonds N rolled to his fifth win in seven American starts on Monday at Plainridge Park. Tom Melanson photo.

Leaving from post six, Rock Diamonds N (Ron Cushing) set up shop on the point by the eighth pole and opened up a two-length lead while cruising to the quarter in :26.4. By the time the race reached the half, it was in two rows, with Late Night Joke (Shawn Gray) moving on the outside and Quick Shot (Drew Campbell) stalking from the pocket, but the chasers were still a long length behind the leader.

The race remained unchanged to three-quarters and around the last turn. When Rock Diamonds N hit the head of the lane, Cushing merely tapped his tail, put his hands in his lap and just held on for the ride as the stout-hearted son of Rocknroll Hanover pulled away to a four-length lead and ran away to a wrapped-up 1:51.1 victory and a new lifetime mark.

Since making his first North American start on April 8, Rock Diamonds N ($4.00) has now won five out of seven races for owners Kevin Sywyk, Ron Cushing and Frank Ranaldi. Heidi Gibbs trains the winner.

Cushing also won the sub-featured $12,000 conditioned pace with JK Will Power, who out-fought Cruzing Hill (Drew Campbell) for the lead past the quarter and then set every fraction from there. After registering a tepid :56.4 half, JK Will Power then put up back-to-back :28.4 splits and held off a late charging Cruzing Hill from the pocket as well to win by a half length in 1:54.2.

It was the fourth score of the year for JK Will Power ($3.60), who is owned by Michael Goldberg Racing and trained by Jeff Lieberman.

During the afternoon, Patrizio Ancora, Mitchell Cushing, Jim Hardy and Jay Randall all scored driving doubles. Trainers Domenico Cecere, Eric Beach and Shawn Answeeney doubled up as well on the conditioning side.

The Wicked Hi-5 pentafecta remains the most elusive bet at Plainridge, and as such has produced yet another healthy carryover pool of $3,729 that will be available in the sixth race on Thursday (June 6), when live racing at Plainridge Park resumes. Post time for the first race is 4 p.m.

Back to Top

Share via