Drafting off the pace early in pursuit of a stiff fraction, O So Easy rallied past the half to capture the $20,000 Open Handicap trot at Plainridge Park on Monday afternoon.
Madhatter Bluechip (Kevin Switzer, Jr.) took his usual position on the front end off the gate and flew to the quarter in :26.3. Shorething Fashion (Nick Graffam) was keeping a fairly close stance while the rest of the field was gapped-off as they moved past the stands.
Moving into the second half O So Easy (Drew Monti) pulled and was rolling in the breeze methodically making his way towards Madhatter Bluechip, who was still strong on the lead all through the final bend. Coming off the far turn O So Easy was outside of Madhatter Bluechip with the tripped-out Shorething Fashion trotting freely along the pylons. All three drivers were working their rides hard through the stretch where O So Easy did the best work and got up by a neck in 1:54.3.
It was the fifth win of the year for O So Easy ($5.60) who is owned by Greathorse of Massachusetts and trained by Domenico Cecere.
The best pace of the day came in the $12,000 conditioned event for six-year-olds and under where the recently imported Zinny Mach N (Ron Cushing) took control of the race on the front, backed down the half to :56.4 and then posted back to back quarters of :27.1 and :28 to cruise home a wrapped-up winner by 2-1/4 lengths in 1:52.
The time was a new lifetime mark for the winner.
It was the second North American win for Zinny Mach N ($9.40) who has acclimated well since shipping over. The four-year-old gelded son of Mach Three-Zingara is owned by Kevin Sywyk, Ron Cushing and Frank Ranaldi. Heidi Gibbs trains the winner.
Drivers Ron Cushing, Kevin Switzer, Jr., Matty "Ice" Athearn and Nick Graffam all had driving doubles on the card. Trainer Heidi Gibbs also had two winners on Monday.
Racing resumes at Plainridge Park on Thursday at 1 p.m.
(Standardbred Owners of Massachusetts)