A total of $50,000 was up for grabs and split in two divisions of Winners-Over pacers at Plainridge Park on Thursday afternoon and both winners had to put in sharp performances in order to claim that currency.
In the first split, The Bird Dance N (Ron Cushing) set his own pace from the start and finished strong at the wire.
Cushing put The Bird Dance N right on the point and went unaccosted until the race hit the three-quarters in 1:23.4. There, Hudson Phil (Jay Randall) had made his way up to second on the outside and was almost even with the leader in the last turn. These two paced in step around the bend and down the lane, but The Bird Dance N never gave up the lead and eventually paced away to a one-length lead at the light in 1:51.4.
It was the fourth North American win for The Bird Dance N ($3.80) this year - all of which were at Plainridge Park - for owner Phillip Scott McKenzie. Heidi Gibbs trains the winner.
Cushing and Gibbs also won with the venerable Bettors Fire N (1:51.4, $30.40) who registered his 65th career victory and give each two scores apiece at the end of the day.
The second group of side-wheelers saw Rollinlikethunder (Drew Monti) barrel down the stretch to claim his fifth win of the year.
Thinkbig Dreambig (Bruce Ranger) out-muscled a stubborn Mansome (Kevin Switzer, Jr.) to the quarter in :25.4 before the latter took a seat in third. However benefitting most from that early speed was Rollinlikethunder, who had the garden spot trip the entire time. Approaching the half, Wyatt J (Drew Campbell) was advancing to second on the rim and continued the assault on the already hard-used Thinkbig Dreambig. But the leader was stout and rebuffed that attempt as well in the turn and took a one length lead into the stretch. That is where Rollinlikethunder pulled and...rolled like thunder down the lane to a 1-3/4 length win in a seasonal best time of 1:51.1.
Rollinlikethunder ($18.40) has now earned $74,450 in 2021 for his owners Richard Cortese and Donald Hawk. The six-year-old Roll With Joe gelding is trained by Jimmy Nickerson.
Racing resumes at Plainridge Park on Friday (Oct. 8) with post time at 2 p.m.
(Standardbred Owners of Massachusetts)