A consistent rain and sloppy track were no deterrent for O So Easy who took an unconventional route to victory in the $20,000 Open Handicap trotting feature at Plainridge Park on Monday afternoon.
In a reversal of strategy, driver Bruce Ranger left with the usually slow-starting O So Easy and put her right on the point. The lone mare shook her tail at the eight boys in the field as she took them through fractions of :28.1, :57.4 and 1:27.2, leading the whole way by 1-1/4 lengths. She then rolled around the far turn and started to pull away in the stretch and ended up hitting the wire 3-3/4 lengths in front in 1:57.
It was the third win in the last five starts and the sixth win of the year for O So Easy ($2.80) who is owned by Greathorse of Massachusetts and trained by Domenico Cecere.
The top pace of the day was a $14,000 conditioned event that saw Zinny Mach N (Ron Cushing) get away sixth before pulling at the half, tipping three-wide at three-quarters and then pull away to a dominant five-length win in 1:55.
It was the fourth North American win for Zinny Mach N ($4.40) who is owned by Kevin Sywyk, Ron Cushing and Frank Ranaldi. Heidi Gibbs does the training.
Drew Campbell was the top driver at The Ridge on Monday, winning three races on the card while Jim Hardy and Mitchell Cushing finished the day with two apiece.
Racing resumes at Plainridge Park on Thursday afternoon at 1 p.m.
(Standardbred Owners of Massachusetts)