Co-featured Opens highlighted the racing program at Plainridge Park on Monday, May 4, and both winners turned in impressive performances with different paths to victory.

In the $33,784 Fillies and Mares Open Pace, Sweet Hayley Jane A overcame an early misstep and rallied late for the win.

Sweet Hayley Jane A (Ron Cushing) made a break shortly after the start of the race and was taken back to last as Swedish Starlet N (Matty Athearn) and Elegant A (Shawn Gray) traded leads to the quarter in :26.3. Once settled on the point, Elegant A led the field to the half in :55.2 where Custard Dolce (Drew Monti) made a first-over move from fourth and was followed by Ambushed (Cory Stratton). 

Custard Dolce continued to make up ground and drew alongside Elegant A as they passed three-quarters in 1:22.4 while Sweet Hayley Jane A was still last but only a few lengths in arrears and moving three-wide into contention. Ambushed pulled ahead of Elegant A in the stretch before Swedish Starlet N blasted up the pylons to take the lead from Ambushed. But it was Sweet Hayley Jane A who was barrelling down the center of the track and pulled ahead of Swedish Starlet N by a half-length at the line to win in 1:51.4. Swedish Starlet N was second, followed by Ambushed.

The win was the second straight for Sweet Hayley Jane A ($5), who is owned by Ron Cushing, in partnership with Kevin Sywyk. Heidi Cushing trains the six-year-old daughter of Sweet Lou-Tacthayleysdelight, who is now 17-for-58 lifetime. 

Memorynimagination was a strong front-end winner with a season's-best effort in the $33,784 Open Handicap Trot.

Memorynimagination (Matty Athearn) battled A New Leader (Mitchell Cushing) for the lead off the gate and settled into control passing the :27.3 quarter. Memorynimagination then backed off the half to :56.4 before being challenged by Resolve To Win (Bruce Ranger), who came rolling up on the outside from fifth.

Resolve To Win got within a length of Memorynimagination as they passed three-quarters in 1:25.1 but was soon rebuffed as they headed around the last turn. When they straightened out, A New Leader found a clear path off cover and made a late rush heading for home, but Memorynimagination marched to the line on top by 1-3/4 lengths in 1:54.4. A New Leader (Mitchell Cushing) was second, with Resolve To Win (Bruce Ranger) third.

Memorynimagination ($6.20) now has 19 lifetime victories in 78 starts. Jimmy Nickerson trains the five-year-old son of Father Patrick-Fellowship Of Two for Joe Trice.

Drivers Matty Athearn, Mitchell Cushing, Nick Graffam and Jay Randall and trainers Mike Graffam and Rob Harmon all had two wins each on the 11-race card.

Racing resumes at Plainridge on Tuesday at 4 p.m. There will be a $2,477 carryover in the Wicked Hi-5 pentafecta wager in the sixth race. 

(Standardbred Owners of Massachusetts)