Benefitting from a perfect trip, Andy Mac Hanover and driver Matty Athearn brushed late to a 1-1/4-length victory in the $23,611 featured pace at Plainridge Park on Tuesday afternoon, Nov. 12.
Athearn left from post five with Andy Mac Hanover and ended up watching Bang Ah Uey (Jim Hardy) take the front at the :28.1 quarter. With Bang Ah Uey leading, positions remained unchanged to the half in :56.4 and three-quarters in 1:25.3 with only a mild bid from Swifty Run (Bruce Ranger) to that point. The race proceeded around the last turn and when they hit the stretch, Andy Mac Hanover pulled and paced past Bang Ah Uey to easily win in 1:54.3. JD Camden GB (Nick Graffam) rounded out the top three.
The triumph was the third of the year in 25 starts for Andy Mac Hanover ($2.40), who is owned by Rick Cortese and Marc Reynolds. Jimmy Nickerson trains the four-year-old gelding by Captaintreacherous.
Brett Beckwith was the leading driver on Tuesday with a hat trick in the bike.
Racing resumes at Plainridge Park on Thursday, Nov. 14 at 1 p.m. and there will be a $2,739 carryover in the Wicked Hi-5 pentafecta in race six.
(With files from Standardbred Owners of Massachusetts)