Plainville, MA — Co-featured Opens highlighted the racing program at Plainridge Park on Monday (May 4) afternoon and both winners turned in impressive performances with different paths to victory.
First in the $25,000 Open Handicap pace for fillies and mares, Sweet Hayley Jane A overcame an early misstep to rally late for the win.
Sweet Hayley Jane A (Ron Cushing) made a break shortly after the start of the race and was taken back to last as Swedish Starlet N (Matty Athearn) and Elegant A (Shawn Gray) traded leads to the quarter. Once settled on the point, Elegant A led the field to the half in :55.2 where Custard Dolce (Drew Monti) made a first-over move from fourth and was followed by Ambushed (Cory Stratton).
Custard Dolce continued to make up ground and drew alongside Elegant A as they passed three-quarters while Sweet Hayley Jane A was still last, but only a few lengths in arrears, and was moving three-wide into contention. The mares made their way through the turn and into the stretch where Ambushed pulled ahead of Elegant A, before Swedish Starlet N blasted up the pylons to take the lead from Ambushed. But it was Sweet Hayley Jane A who was barreling down the center of the track and pulled ahead of Swedish Starlet N by a half-length at the line to win in 1:51.4.
It was the second straight win for Sweet Hayley Jane A ($5.00) who is owned by her driver Ron Cushing, in partnership with Kevin Sywyk. Heidi Cushing trains the winner.
Then later in the $25,000 Open Handicap trot, Memorynimagination was a strong front-end winner in a season’s best effort.
Memorynimagination (Matty Athearn) battled A New Leader (Mitchell Cushing) for the lead off the gate and settled in control passing the :27.3 quarter. Memorynimagination then backed off the half to :56.4 before being challenged by a rush from Resolve To Win (Bruce Ranger), who came rolling up the outside from the back of the pack.
Resolve To Win got close to Memorynimagination as they passed three-quarters in 1:25.1, but was soon rebuffed as they headed around the last turn. Athearn asked for more and Memorynimagination opened up some room as they spun into the stretch. When they straightened out, A New Leader found a clear path off-cover and made a late rush heading for home. However it was too little, too late, as Memorynimagination marched to the line on top by 1-3/4 lengths to win in 1:54.4, which was a new seasonal mark.
It was the third win in the last four starts and fifth win of the year for Memorynimagination ($6.20), who is owned by Joe Trice and trained by Jimmy Nickerson.
Drivers Matty Athearn, Mitchell Cushing, Nick Graffam and Jay Randall and trainers Mike Graffam and Rob Harmon all had two wins each on Monday.
Racing resumes at Plainridge Park on Tuesday (May 5) at 4 p.m. and there will be a $2,477 carryover in the Wicker Hi-5 pentafecta wager in the sixth race.
Free full card past performance programs for every live card of racing at Plainridge Park can always be downloaded at their website (plainridgeparkcasino.com) under the “Racing” tab. You can also watch all the race replays on that same page.