Plainville, MA — A drop in class at Plainridge Park paid big dividends for Th Kay C Crunch Friday (May 29) after he won the $12,000 featured pace and equaled the fastest mile of his life.
Th Kay C Crunch (Mitchell Cushing) took the lead and marched to the quarter in :26.2 before Major Betts (Bruce Ranger) pulled from second to go to the front before scooting to the half in :55 flat. Positions remained unchanged until halfway up the backstretch where Cushing moved Th Kay C Crunch to the outside again and matched strides with Major Betts around the last turn. Th Kay C Crunch took about a length lead at the top of the stretch, but was far from home at that point. Major Betts found new life and closed in while Flirtin JK (Kevin Switzer Jr.) and Denial (Matty Athearn) were flying from the rear. But Th Kay C Crunch stood his ground and turned back all challenges to win by a quarter length in 1:52.1, which tied his lifetime mark set at Mohawk Woodbine Park last year.
Th Kay C Crunch ($3.40) is owned by Joe Trice and trained by Jimmy Nickerson.
Drivers Matty Athearn, Mitchell Cushing and Bruce Ranger all had two wins apiece during the program.
Racing resumes at Plainridge Park on Monday (June 1) at 4 p.m. and there will be a $26,713 carryover in the Wicked 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.