Mach Doro A Repeats At Plainridge
Coming off a lifetime mark last week, Mach Doro A bounced right back in seven days to win again in the $14,000 Winners-Over Handicap at Plainridge Park on Monday afternoon.
Having been assigned post nine, driver Ron Cushing floated Mach Doro A off the gate and unhurriedly made his way to the front past the quarter in :26.2. The son of Mach Three then snapped off the next two quarters in :28.4 and :28.3 with Opus Blue Chip (Mike Stevenson) following close behind.
The race made its way around the last turn when Betterlatethannever (Jay Randall), who had been rolling up the outside, drew even with Opus Blue Chip but neither could gain any ground on the leader and by the top of the lane, the leader was gone. Cushing lifted the lines a bit and Mach Doro A accelerated away to a 2-1/2 length advantage he would take to the wire where he won in 1:51 over the sloppy-rated track.
Mach Doro A now has six wins and $71,000 made in North America for owners Kevin Sywyk, his driver Cushing and Frank Ranaldi. Heidi Gibbs trains the winner.
In the $12,000 upper-level conditioned co-featured event, Tisadream N (Drew Monti) pulled from second past a fast :26 first quarter to take the lead. Shortly after Captain Deo (Mitchell Cushing) pulled from third, drew alongside the leader and battled stride for stride with Tisadream N to the half in :54.3 and three-quarters in 1:22 as the pair broke-away from the field. Halfway through the last turn Tisadream N got a short advantage and Monti popped the plugs as they opened up a two-length lead. Captain Deo continued to pursue all the way to the wire but Tisadream N held sway and won by a length in 1:50.
The time was a new lifetime mark for Tisadream N ($5.80) and was only two-fifths of a second off the track record for aged pacing geldings.
Tisadream N is owned by Tony Gruppo and Tim Bojarski and is trained by Scott Rollins.
Shawn Gray had a driving Hat Trick while Ron Cushing and Mitchell Cushing each had two wins apiece.
Racing resumes at Plainridge Park on Thursday with post time at 4 p.m.
(Standardbred Owners of Massachusetts)