Plainville, MA — A total of $50,000 was up for grabs in two Winners-Over pacing events at Plainridge Park on Thursday afternoon (Oct. 7), and both winners had to put in sharp performances in order to claim that currency.

In the first split, The Bird Dance N (Ron Cushing) set his own pace from the start and finished strongly at the wire.

Cushing put The Bird Dance N right on the point and was uncontested until the race hit the three-quarters in 1:23.4. There, Hudson Phil (Jay Randall) had made his way up to second on the outside and was almost even with the leader in the last turn. These two paced in step around the bend and down the lane, but The Bird Dance N never gave up the lead and eventually paced away to a one-length lead at the line in 1:51.4.

It was the fourth North American win for The Bird Dance N ($3.80) this year — all of which were at Plainridge Park — for owner Phillip Scott McKenzie. Heidi Gibbs trains the winner.

Cushing and Gibbs also won with the venerable Bettors Fire N (1:51.4, $30.40), who registered his 65th career victory.

The second group of side-wheelers saw Rollinlikethunder (Drew Monti) barrel down the stretch to claim his fifth win of the year.

Thinkbig Dreambig (Bruce Ranger) out-muscled a stubborn Mansome (Kevin Switzer Jr.) to the quarter in :25.4 before the latter took a seat in third. However, the early speed mostly benefitted Rollinlikethunder, who stalked from the garden spot the entire time. Approaching the half, Wyatt J (Drew Campbell) advanced to second on the rim and continued the assault on the already hard-used Thinkbig Dreambig. The leader stoutly rebuffed that attempt on the turn and took a one-length lead into the stretch, but Rollinlikethunder pulled and surged to a 1-3/4-length win in a seasonal best time of 1:51.1.

Rollinlikethunder ($18.40) has now earned $74,450 in 2021 for his owners Richard Cortese and Donald Hawk. The 6-year-old Roll With Joe gelding is trained by Jimmy Nickerson.

Monti and Nickerson teamed up again later to win with Starznheaven (1:51.3, $3.80), giving Monti a driving triple and Nickerson a training double.

Racing resumes at Plainridge Park on Friday (Oct. 8) with post time at 2 p.m.