Big Box Hanover flexed his muscles again at Plainridge Park after taking down seven opponents to win his third consecutive $33,784 Open Handicap Trot on Friday afternoon, Oct. 11.

Starting way out on the right wing from post eight, driver Steve Wilson and Big Box Hanover flew right to the front and were never headed from there. With Golden Kronos (Mitchell Cushing) tracking close in the pocket, Big Box Hanover got to the quarter in :27.3 before Sidd Finch (Drew Campbell) came calling on the outside to pressure him from the half to seven-eighths, where Sidd Finch finally faded. That left the pocket-sitting Golden Kronos to challenge, and challenge he did, as he found room along the pylons. Golden Kronos was making up ground with every stride on Big Box Hanover all the way to the line, but Big Box Hanover was tough to beat and hung on to victory by a head in 1:54. 

The win was the eighth of the year from 32 starts for Big Box Hanover, who is owned and trained by Larry Stalbaum. He paid $12.20 to win.

In a $23,649 upper-level conditioned trot, Mocha Java and Jay Randall upset the apple cart after taking the lead from Twoscoopsforjack (Matty Athearn) at the quarter and then leading all the way to the wire where he beat fellow longshot Motto (Bruce Ranger) by a neck in 1:55. Mocha Java is owned by Michael Casalino Jr. and trained by Rob Harmon. He returned $31.20 to win.

Matty Athearn drove three winners on Friday, two of which were trained by Jimmy Nickerson, making both leaders for the day in their respective categories. 

Racing resumes at Plainridge Park on Monday, Oct. 14 at 2 p.m. and there will be a $527 carryover in the Wicked Hi-5 pentafecta in race six. The card will also feature the third leg of the Massachusetts Breeders Stakes for two-year-olds.

(Standardbred Owners of Massachusetts)