Overlooked by the betting faithful as he made his first start back from a seven month layoff, Rock Candy scored a sweet victory at 30-1 in the $25,000 Winners-Over pacing feature at Plainridge Park on Thursday afternoon.
Driver Nick Graffam got away sixth with Rock Candy as Hudson Phil (Jay Randall) and The Bird Dance N (Ron Cushing) traded leads to the quarter in :26. Now in control, The Bird Dance N had a short breather to the half where Wyatt J (Drew Campbell) moved first up with pressure while Rock Candy took his cover.
At the three-quarter pole The Bird Dance N and Wyatt J we're fully engaged and they stayed that way around the last turn. That's where Rock Candy tipped three wide at the top of the stretch and brushed down the lane to win by a nose in 1:51.
It was the second win in only 12 starts this year for Rock Candy ($65.60) who is owned by the Jesmeral Stable and trained by Sheena Cohen.
In the $20,000 upper-level conditioned pace, Mansome (Bruce Ranger) made every station a winning one as he led from gate to wire to win by 3-1/2 lengths in 1:51.4. It was the sixth win of the year for Mansome ($5.00) who now boasts $90,342 in earnings for owners Bruce Weinstein and Elisha Lafreniere, who also trains the gelding.
Driver Shawn Gray had a big day at The Ridge and it was highlighted with a win in the third upper-level $17,500 conditioned pace with King Spencer ($7.80) who ran off the screen after taking the lead from a pylon position start. King Spencer got stronger as the mile went on and won easily by 1-1/4 lengths in 1:52.1.
It was the seventh win of the year for King Spencer who is owned by Linwood Higgins and trained by Jim Dunn.
Gray also won with Chief Of Staff (1:54.3, $6.40), Dreamzzzz R For U (1:55, $17.20) and Jeff’s Journey (1:54.3, $8.40) to round out his grand slam.
Racing resumes at Plainridge Park on Friday (Nov. 5) with post time at 1 p.m.
(Standardbred Owners of Massachusetts)