Nebbiolo, making his sophomore debut, moved swiftly to the front in the second quarter and went on to score an impressive victory in the Grade 3 $136,986 Bunker Hill Trot at Plainridge Park on Saturday, May 16.

Nebbiolo, driven by Sarah Svanstedt, settled in fourth off the gate while Whos Eyes Blues (Nick Graffam) and Create Escape (Jonathan Ahle) engaged in a skirmish to the quarter in a speedy :26.3. After Create Escape finally established the lead, Svanstedt pulled Nebbiolo and fired him to the front. 

He had a two-length lead at the half in :55.3, but Whos Eyes Blues moved first-over and pushed the issue to three-quarters in 1:24.4 and around the last turn. But Whos Eyes Blues made a break on the turn, leaving Nebbiolo with a three-length advantage entering the stretch, and Svanstedt kept him focused down the lane to win by three lengths in a lifetime-best 1:54.2. Midwind Chimp (Mattias Melander) finished second, followed by Water Slide (Matt Athearn).

Hambletonian eligible Nebbiolo ($6.20) is now five-for-nine lifetime following victories in the Pennsylvania Sire Stakes, Simpson Memorial and Liberty Bell at two. The son of Captain Corey-Via Lattea It is owned and was bred by Knuttson Trotting Inc. and trained by Ake Svanstedt. 

Earlier on the card, Shawn Carlstrom took his first career training victory as Tommy In The Sky ($9.80) won the second race in 1:56.4. The four-year-old So Surreal-Charms Little Sis gelding shifted onto cover coming down the backstretch, lagged behind as the top two battled into the final turn, then rallied down the lane and got up to win by a head for driver Jim Hardy. The gelding, owned by Kasey Pratt, improved to four-for-31 lifetime. Carlstrom has recorded all eight of his starts with Tommy In The Sky, whom he sent out for the first time in October. The 32-year-old Attleborough, Mass. resident is now 8-1-0-0 with $7,957 in earnings.

In overnight action at The Ridge, driver Matty Athearn had a big day with four wins on the nine-race card, including a natural hat trick in races three, four and five. “Matty Ice” won with Laurens Hoopla (1:57.1, $9.40), And Up We Go (1:57.4, $2.80), Finnbar (1:54.3, $10.60) and Bellas Love (1:56.2, $5.80).  Athearn also had three seconds and a third from his nine starts, giving him a stellar .667 UDR for the day. 

Racing resumes at Plainridge on Monday at 4 p.m. There will be a $11,380 carryover in the Wicked Hi-5 pentafecta wager in the sixth race. 

(With files from Standardbred Owners of Massachusetts)