Last year's Massachusetts Breeders Stakes sophomore trotting colt champion Pepper Wow took full advantage of a covered trip to score his first Open-level victory at Plainridge Park on Friday, Oct. 17.

Making his third start in the $35,211 Open Handicap Trot over the last month, Pepper Wow got away fourth for driver Mitchell Cushing as Duke Lavictoire (Aaron Byron) took command at the quarter pole in :27.1 and marched to the half in :56.1. It was there an outer flow developed led by Marquis Lafayette (Bruce Ranger) with Pepper Wow on his back as they passed three-quarters in 1:24.3.

Duke Lavictoire folded in the turn and Marquis Lafayette took over, but Pepper Wow tipped off his cover and came right at the leader and took control as they made their way down the lane. Pepper Wow had to hold off strong late bids by Sforza (Nick Graffam) and Memorynimagination (Matty Athearn) before he could claim his half-length victory in 1:53.3, which tied his lifetime mark taken in his state-bred championship as a sophomore.

The win was the fifth win of the year in 18 starts for Pepper Wow, who is trained by Ivan Davies, co-owner with breeders Kathy & Earl Beaman of Winchester, New Hampshire. The four-year-old son of Crazy Wow-Tori Hall now boasts 11 victories in 40 career starts with earnings just shy of $330,000. He paid $8.20 to win.

Another former Massachusetts champ Bill Bauer was a 1:55.3 winner later in a $31,690 upper-level conditioned trot with Nick Graffam driving for trainer Paul Kelley. The six-year-old E L Titan-Miss Flaggy Meadow gelding is owned by Paul Kelley Racing Stable of Lake Worth, Florida and Leo Bauer of Rochester, Massachusetts.

Todd O’Dea and Bruce Ranger were the leading reinsmen with two wins each while 11 different trainers each won one race apiece.

Live harness racing will resume at Plainridge Park on Monday, Oct. 20 at 2 p.m., featuring the third leg of the Massachusetts Breeders Stakes. Seven fields of state-bred two-year-olds will go postward to make their final plays to make the rich finals that will be held on Thursday, Oct. 30.

(With files from Standardbred Owners of Massachusetts)