Plainridge Park’s third leading dash driver, Jay Randall added to his numbers on Thursday (Nov. 10) after winning the top two trots of the week at "The Ridge".
First he took the $25,000 upper-level conditioned event with Vernon Downs shipper Bourbon Express, who went down the road and refused to be caught.
Bourbon Express took the lead from post 5 and set quarters of :27.3, :57 and 1:25.1 before taking a two-length lead over Angel Nation into the last turn. When the trotters straightened for home, Bourbon Express just kept going and won by three lengths at the light in 1:54.
Owned by Sal Vullo, James De Armond and his trainer Jessica Okusko, Bourbon Express returned $8.20 to his backers in the mild upset.
Then Randall came right back in the next race with Mrmayor Hanover to win the $20,000 conditioned trot in similarly easy fashion.
Mrmayor Hanover had to wait outside for Storm Bringer and Billy B to settle their argument for the front before he himself rushed the point and became commander of fractions. Once there, Mrmayor Hanover led by mostly a two-length advantage all the way to the stretch and then finished the job under wraps and still up by two at the line in 1:56.
It was the second win in a row for Mrmayor Hanover, who is owned by Marc Reynolds and Rick Cortese and was one of three wins on the day for leading trainer Jimmy Nickerson. He paid $2.80 to win.
Brett Beckwith topped all reignsmen on Thursday copping a hat trick during the afternoon.
Racing resumes at Plainridge Park on Monday (Nov. 14) with post time at 1 p.m. (EST) and there will be a sizable carryover of $5,398 in the Wicked Hi-5 pentafecta in the sixth race for value-seeking punters.
(Plainridge Park)