P L Notsonice made her way to Massachusetts last week and rewrote the Plainridge Park record book for four-year-old trotting mares after she won in 1:53.3. For her encore on Friday, Oct. 1, she knocked off over a full second from that record as she just jogged in 1:52 in the $25,000 Open Handicap Trot.
Renaldo Morales III settled P L Notsonice in third while Blue Knight (Ivan Davies) smoked to the half in :54.4. In the second turn, Morales tipped P L Notsonice, took the lead on the back straight and then simply trotted away. She opened up three lengths by three-quarters and six at the top of the stretch. P L Notsonice ($2.40) then turned for home and simply cruised to her new lifetime mark of 1:52.
On the strength of her fifth win of the year, the Kadabra mare pushed her seasonal earnings over $75,000 for owner Gratitude First. Dale Gilmour does the training.
In the co-featured $22,500 Winners-Over Trot, Northern Sultan ($21.40) moved up in class on the strength of his win last Friday and won again after tripping-out behind Big Rich (Kevin Switzer Jr.), who cut the mile from the start. As the race spiralled off the far turn, driver Mike Stevenson tipped Northern Sultan and took the lead from Big Rich in deep stretch and won in 1:54.3, which was a new lifetime mark for the Royalty For Life gelding.
Northern Sultan is owned and trained by Bill Krikorian.
Nick Graffam had a driving hat trick on Friday.
Racing resumes at Plainridge Park on Sunday, Oct. 3 with post time at 2 p.m. The Massachusetts Sire Stakes resume on Sunday when three-year-olds of both sexes and gaits reconvene for their second leg of action.
(With files from Standardbred Owners of Massachusetts)