A stormy day and sloppy track was the backdrop for racing in Massachusetts on Friday (Oct. 11) but Nows The Moment made the most of it, taking full advantage of a strong front-end bias the conditions provided and coasted to an easy win in the $14,000 Open Handicap Trot at Plainridge Park.
Driver Mike Stevenson fired Nows The Moment off the gate and took command before the quarter in :27.1. With the field widely gapped behind him, Nows The Moment continued to dictate the fractions at the half in :55.4 and three-quarters in 1:25.1. At that station Nows The Moment opened up a two-length lead that he extended to 3-1/2 under the wire where he won in 1:54.1.
It was the third straight win, second win in a row at Plainridge and seventh win overall for the year for Nows The Moment ($3.60) who has now inflated his bankroll to $83,573 for owner Sonya Mac Donald. Allison Mac Donald trains the winner.
In the co-featured $12,000 conditioned trot, Whiskey Lindy (Drew Monti) didn’t mind the weather and remained undefeated while destroying the field in a romp. After leaving in :26.4 in the slop, Monti backed down Whiskey Lindy to a moderate :56.3 half before stepping on the gas and smoking to the three-quarters in :28.4. From there he was all alone and opened up a 7-1/4 length lead under no urging at all to win in 1:55.3.
It was the fifth straight win in only five starts this year for Whiskey Lindy ($3.00) who is owned by Greathorse of Massachusetts and trained by Domenico Cecere.
Monti scored a driving double on the day along with Drew Campbell and Wally Watson.
Racing resumes at Plainridge Park on Sunday (Oct. 13) with post time set for 2 p.m.
(with files from the Standardbred Owners of Massachusetts)