Nows The Moment hasn’t won a top-class trot at Plainridge Park since May 31. But after almost a month layoff and a sharp return victory last week in Maine, the Massachusetts drought ended Friday (Oct. 4) after he scored a convincing four-length victory in the $14,000 Open Handicap Trot at The Ridge.
Shorething Fashion (Nick Graffam) and Nows The Moment (Mike Stevenson) left from post eight and seven respectively and settled in the front of the pack by the quarter. Shorething Fashion, who came in with a four-race winning streak, cut the quarters in :27.2, :56.3 and 1:26.3 with Nows The Moment on his back just waiting to pounce.
It was by that last station that Stevenson pulled his gelding and Nows The Moment engaged the leader in the last turn. The two trotted side by side through the apex until Nows The Moment pulled away from a tiring Shorething Fashion at the head of the stretch. From there he just trotted away effortlessly to win in 1:55.4.
It was the sixth win of 2019 for Nows The Moment ($4.20) who is owned by Sonya Mac Donald and trained by Allison Mac Donald.
In the co-featured $12,000 conditioned trot, Ethoca (Drew Monti) bounced back from a perilous parked-out journey last week to go gate-to-wire in handy fashion to score his fifth win in his last seven starts, timed in 1:58.4.
Ethoca ($6.40) is owned by Greathorse of Massachusetts, David Anderson and John Fielding. Domenico Cecere is the trainer.
Harness Racing resumes at Plainridge Park on Sunday (Oct. 6) at 2:00 p.m. and will feature the second leg of the Massachusetts Sire Stakes for three-year-olds.
(with files from the Standardbred Owners of Massachusetts)