After finishing a respectable fifth in his seasonal bow in the Plainridge Park Open last week, Cherokee Hiflyzane took full advantage of a drop in class to score his first win of 2018 in the $14,000 conditioned pacing feature at Plainridge on Monday afternoon.

Hes Marvelous (Nick Graffam) left from the rail at 50-1 and played give-and-go with Jacksons Image (Jim Hardy) to the quarter in a swift :26.3. From there Graffam continued to drive aggressively to the half in :55.1 and three-quarters in 1:22.3, fending off a challenge from Windsong Jack (Greg Merton) for most of that time.

As the race rounded the final turn, Cherokee Hiflyzane (Michael Stevenson), who had been sitting on Windsong Jack’s back since the half, tipped three-deep just as they approached the top of the stretch and started a furious rush down the center of the track passing Windsong Jack and Hes Marvelous en route to a two-length victory in 1:52.

Cherokee Hiflyzane ($5.60) posted his seasonal best and 20th career win for owners Barrie Farrar and Roger Farrar II of Wrentham, Massachusetts.

In the co-featured $10,000 mid-level conditioned pacing event, Commondiscourtesy (Drew Campbell) found himself parked out to the quarter in :26.1 by Mysharona Bluechip (Pat Curtain) before clearing and leading the rest of the mile before holding off a late challenge from Mysharona Bluechip once again and a late-closing Sinners Prayer (DT Sumner) to win by a neck in 1:52.3.

It was the third 2018 win for Commondiscourtesy ($4.00) and first for his new owner Richard Knight of Westbrook, Maine, who privately purchased the gelding on April 9. Irwin Rosenthal is the winning trainer.

Don’t touch him, he’s hot! That’s all you could say about Greg Merton on Monday as he visited the winner’s circle five times. Merton finished first with Forever Worth It (1:55.1, $3.20), Riproy (1:53, $9.80), Mr Blissful (1:54, $3.20), Avogadro Hanover (1:57, $16.80) and Dr Cs Z Tam (1:53.3, $7.40).

Drew Campbell also posted a driving hat trick.

Racing resumes at Plainridge Park on Tuesday with a 4 p.m. post time.

(Standardbred Owners of Massachusetts)