After crossing the line second to Memorynimagination in the $35,714 Open Handicap Trot at Plainridge Park on Thursday, Oct. 15, Resolve To Win was promoted to victory when the first-place finisher was placed back for a lapped-on break at the wire.
Memorynimagination (Matty Athearn) left sharply from post five and established a two-length lead as he passed the :26.3 quarter, as Resolve To Win (Bruce Ranger) had gotten away sixth and last from post six. With Super Duper Cooper (Brett Beckwith) in the pocket, Memorynimagination got a :29.4 breather heading to the half in :56.2, where Resolve To Win tipped first and flushed Pepper Wow (Mitchell Cushing) for cover.
Pepper Wow moved forward and got within a length of Memorynimagination at three-quarters in 1:25 with Resolve To Win in tow, but the leader started to trot away in the turn. Resolve To Win therefore went three-deep heading into the stretch and had 2-1/2 lengths to make up. Memorynimagination was chased by Super Duper Cooper and Resolve To Win into the lane but was still clear by a length at the stretch call. Resolve To Win's late push put him a half-length back of Memorynimagination, who got rough-gaited in the shadow of the wire but crossed first.
After an inquiry, Memorynimagination was placed second for a lapped-on break, and Resolve To Win was placed first with a 1:53.2 clocking. Super Duper Cooper finished third.
Resolve To Win ($2.60) is owned by Pollack Racing LLC and trained by Enrico Robinson. The six-year-old son of Resolve-Sensual Hall is now 37-for-112 lifetime.
In the $24,286 upper-level conditioned trot, Malibu Kid (Matty Athearn) got away sixth and remained there as Unevergonnagethis (Bruce Ranger) marched through fractions of :27, :56.2 and 1:24.2. At three-quarters, Malibu Kid found an opening from the pylons and got out with trot, gobbling up ground around the far turn. Malibu Kid moved into fourth at the head of the stretch and then bolted to the line, catching Unevergonnagethis by a head in 1:54.1. Heavens Pic (Nick Graffam) was third. The win was the 44th lifetime in 182 starts for Malibu Kid ($22.60). The eight-year-old Wishing Stone-Malibu Seelster gelding is owned by Shark Racing Stable and trained by Larry Stalbaum.
There was a $28,571 Romper Room race for two-year-old trotters on Thursday that was won by Highest Mountain (Brett Beckwith). The son of Walner-Monimovesmountains went gate to wire in 1:57 to claim his first career win in five starts. Highest Mountain ($2.80) is owned by Moni Maker Stable and trained by Domenico Cecere.
Nick Graffam had a big day at The Ridge as he posted a grand slam during the 11-race program. Graffam won with Ponda Rocky (1:54, $6), The World Owes Me (1:55.1, $3.20), Wicked Fun (1:55.1, $11.40) and Fog Watch (1:56.3, $22).
Trainers Gretchen Athearn and Eric Dickson both had doubles on Thursday.
Racing will resume at Plainridge Park on Friday at 2 p.m. There will be a $9,908 carryover in the Wicked Hi-5 pentafecta wager in the sixth race.
(With files from Standardbred Owners of Massachusetts; photo of Resolve To Win winning on Sept. 21)