The curtain fell on the 2019 live harness racing season at Plainridge Park on Friday (Nov. 29) and Sailor Jerry had the honour of winning the last $14,000 pacing feature of the year.
Leaving from post six, Nick Graffam sent Sailor Jerry right to the front and never looked back. After posting fairly even quarters of :28.1, :56.4 and 1:24.4, Sailor Jerry took a one-length lead into the stretch and bravely held off the fast-closing Betterlatethnnever (Mitchell Cushing) and Beachchip Hanover (Kevin Switzer Jr.) to win by a neck in 1:53.1.
The win was the sixth of the year for Sailor Jerry ($15), who is owned by Mike Graffam and Christopher Hamilton. Mike Graffam also does the training.
Lindy Pearl (Bruce Ranger) took the getaway $12,000 top trot after gaining the lead past the half and cruising home to a 2-1/2-length win in 1:56. Owned by the Lindy Farms of Connecticut and trained by Domenico Cecere, Lindy Pearl ($5.20) notched her third straight win at Plainridge Park as a result of today’s effort.
There were several presentations made in the winner’s circle on the final day of racing as well.
Track announcer Lenny Calderone was honoured by friends and track management as he completed his 20th year of calling races at Plainridge Park. Calderone has been a staple in the announcer’s booth since the track opened in 1999 and has added excitement and colour to every contest he has described from high above the grandstand.
Later, the meet’s top driver and trainer were also lauded.
Mitchell Cushing was the meet’s leading dash driver finishing the year with 170 wins, 33 ahead of second-place Drew Campbell, after his three-bagger on Friday. Cushing also earned in excess of $1.22 million in purses and sported a .352 Universal Driver Rating (UDR).
Jimmy Nickerson led all conditioners this year at The Ridge with 58 wins, more than $450,000 in earnings and a UTR of .377.
(With files from Standardbred Owners of Massachusetts)