Benefitting from a perfect trip, Big Al M brushed late to victory in the $27,397 Open Handicap trotting feature at Plainridge Park on Thursday afternoon, July 11.

Remember Titans (Brett Beckwith) grabbed the early lead before Delayed Hanover (Jay Randall) took over the top at the :27.3 quarter. During that action, Big Al M (Matty Athearn) sat patiently third. With no prompters coming from behind, Delayed Hanover then set an even tempo, going :56.1 to the half and 1:24.3 to three-quarters. During that third quarter, Marquis Lafayette (Bruce Ranger) made a three-wide bid up the backstretch, but broke at the top of the last turn. So Delayed Hanover took his lead into the stretch while Remember Titans tipped out and Big Al M went three-wide around him. The three eventually drew even just four pylons before the wire, but Big Al M blasted by both late to win by three-quarters of a length in a seasonal best 1:54. 

The triumph was the second win in a row for Big Al M ($10.60), who is owned and trained by Zachary Vickerson. 

Athearn also won the $23,973 conditioned trot with Cruising Tom, who also sat third behind the front-running Bravado (Kevin Switzer Jr.) until three-quarters when he pulled and drew even with Bravado at the top of the stretch. From there, Cruising Tom put away Bravado and then held off a late rush from Enola (Nick Graffam) to win by a head in 1:54.1, which was a new lifetime mark.

The victory was the second win in a row as well for Cruising Tom ($14.80), who is owned by Rick Cortese and Marc Reynolds and trained by Jimmy Nickerson. 

Athearn ended the day with a hat trick at the lines, completing the trio with Replica Hanover (1:56.2, $2.80). 

There were also some notable doubles scored on the card. Driver Bruce Ranger and trainer Domenico Cecere teamed up for two wins with Massachusetts Sire Stakes eligible Intl Blockade (1:55.4, $3.20), who got his third win in a row, and Sforza (1:55, $3.80), who got his fourth win in a row. And Ivan Davies was a one-man band, both training and driving Massachusetts Sire Stakes eligible Pepper Wow (1:55.4, $5.60) to a new lifetime mark and Midnight Craze (1:57.2, $4.60) to his 45th career victory.    

In just 10 days, Plainridge Park will have the spotlight of the Grand Circuit directed towards it as the track will host the $250,000 USD Spirit of Massachusetts Trot and accompanying $100,000 USD Clara Barton Distaff Pace on Sunday, July 21 at 2 p.m. Some of the best horses in North America will be in the Bay State to compete on the biggest day of racing of the summer at The Ridge. 

Live harness racing will resume at Plainridge Park on Monday, July 15 with post time at 4 p.m. and the card will feature a $2,300 carryover in the Wicked Hi-5 in race six.

(Standardbred Owners of Massachusetts)