Class relief was the difference for Just Make Believe, who stepped down from last week’s Open to take Thursday’s $10,000 feature race for conditional trotters at Plainridge Park.

Just Make Believe (Eddie Davis, Jr.) out-charged Old Oak (Steve Nason) off the gate for the lead before settling into that position by the eighth pole. The remainder of the field followed in post-position order to the quarter in :27.4. Approaching the half, One Swan For All (Wally Watson) pulled first over in the outer flow but broke shortly after that move. This left Keystone Ace (Bruce Aldrich, Jr.) next in line to pressure the leader.

As the race proceeded up the backside, Keystone Ace drew within a half-length of Just Make Believe and the two trotted in step by three-quarters in 1:26.1. But the battle was just beginning. With less than a length advantage, Just Make Believe was trotting strong near the pylons with Keystone Ace closing incrementally outside. With the wire closing in, It looked as if the leader was in reach but just Make Believe held sway and hung on to a neck victory in 1:56.

It was the second win in eight starts this year for Just Make Believe ($6.20) and the winning time was a new seasonal mark. The seven-year-old gelded son of Kadabra is owned by Linda Kenney and Di Stefano and Son Stable and is trained by John Di Stefano.

It was payoffs-a-plenty again at Plainridge Park on Thursday, led off by the first winning ticket on the new Wicked Hi-5 wager in the sixth race. The owner of the 20-cent straight ticket on the combination of 5-1-7-9-6 was rewarded with a $7,996 payout.

In the fifth race, What A Hooligan (Michael Stevenson) paid $37.80 for the win and in the ninth race Southwind Inferno (Matthew Athearn) rewarded his backers with a $52.60 mutual. The $2 Superfecta combination of 4-3-7-8 in that race returned an instant jackpot of $9,039.80.

Greg Merton had a driving hat-trick and Elisha Lafreniere scored a conditioning double.

With three weeks of the meet in the books, Bruce Aldrich, Jr. maintains the dash driving lead with 22 victories and has Greg Merton right behind him with 20. After Thursday’s action, Elisha Lafreniere took over the training lead with eight wins, one ahead of Heidi Gibbs with seven.

Racing resumes at Plainridge Park on Monday (May 1) at 4 p.m. Please note that starting next week; Plainridge will now race four-days a week (Monday-Tuesday-Thursday-Friday) with post time all four days at 4 p.m.

(Plainridge Park)