Continuing to add numbers to the best year of her career, Skyler Hanover won the $17,500 featured condition pace for fillies and mares at Plainridge Park on Sunday afternoon (Oct. 23) in easy fashion.
Driver Drew Monti floated Skylar Hanover off the gate while Miss Trickster took the lead in the turn. Then Skylar Hanover got in gear, brushed to the front just past the :27.1 quarter and from that point had things her own way. With little resistance from behind, Skylar Hanover made her way to the half in :56.4 and three-quarters in 1:24.4 and then began to separate from the field. By the top of the stretch, she opened a two-length advantage and then, under Monti wraps, cruised to the line by 2-1/2 lengths in 1:53.
It was the fifth win in the last seven starts and ninth overall in 2022 for Skylar Hanover, who is owned by Eric Walstrom and David De Martino and is trained by Jimmy Nickerson. She paid $2.80 to win.
Monti and Nickerson both had big days at The Ridge in their respective categories as they each had a trio of winners during the afternoon. They combined one more time to score with Calvin B (1:53.3 winning mile, $7.60 to win) who got his 56th win and then Monti won with Steal My Thunder (1:55.1, $43.80) for trainer Dan Tuccillo Jr. and Nickerson won with Sweet Sally Sue (1:52.3, $3.20) who was 8-1/4 lengths clear at the wire with Bruce Ranger in the bike to claim her sixth win in a row.
When live racing resumes at Plainridge Park at 2 p.m. (EDT) on Monday afternoon (Oct. 24), eight $125,000 finals of the Massachusetts Sire Stakes will go to post during “Million Dollar Monday”. For fans attending live for those finals, there will also be a free $5,000 Survivor handicapping contest sponsored by the Standardbred Owners of Massachusetts and Plainridge Park.
The object of the handicapping contest is to select one winner in each of the live races held on Monday (Oct. 24), at Plainridge Park. Entrants who fail to select a winning horse as the card progresses will be eliminated. The participant who lasts the longest will receive the prize. If there is a tie between two or more contestants, the money will be split equally among them.
Entry blanks along with free program pages will be available at the track on Monday. Entries must be submitted 15 minutes prior to the scheduled start of the first race which has a post time of 2 p.m. The contest is free to enter for anyone 18-years of age and over and only one entry per person will be accepted. Contestants must be present to win and provide a valid I.D. to collect any prize. Complete rules will be available at the track.
Also on Monday, there will be a large carryover of $12,560 in the sixth-race Jackpot Wicked Hi-5.
(Plainridge Park)