After ripping off four consecutive wins at Plainridge Park over the summer, Tucker Creek has finished third and second in his last two outings. But he got back to his winning ways on Friday (Sept. 18) after taking top honours in the $12,000 feature pace.
Unlikeanyother (Bruce Ranger) grabbed the early lead and marched to the half in :55.1 while Tucker Creek (Drew Monti) followed closely in second. As the field headed into the backstretch, Sea Isle City (Shawn Gray) pulled first over and pushed the pace of the leader to the three quarters in 1:23.1.
Sea Isle City's bid was short lived and he faded in the last turn, allowing Tucker Creek to leave the pocket and from there Tucker Creek and Unlikeanyother broke away from the field by four lengths. Heading down the stretch, the two paced almost in unison all the way to the line where Tucker Creek took the lead by a neck and won in 1:51.1, which was a new lifetime mark.
Tucker Creek ($8.60) now has five wins this year for owner Joseph Hayes Jr. and Paul Paoletti. Jimmy Nickerson trains the winner.
Driver Nick Graffam hit a personal career milestone in the 10th race on Friday after he won with Itsallaboutmach ($17.20) in a lifetime best time of 1:53.4. It was Graffam's 600th lifetime victory in the sulky. The 30-year-old Graffam also has 801 seconds and 761 thirds and earnings in excess of $4.1 million over the last eight years.
Drivers Shawn Gray, Bruce Ranger, Drew Monti and Mitchell Cushing and trainer Jimmy Nickerson, all registered two wins on the card Friday.
Harness racing resumes at Plainridge Park on Sunday (Sept. 20) with first post time at 2:00 p.m.
(Standardbred Owners of Massachusetts)