District 9 event for Plainridge Park based pacers with a Trackmaster of 87 or less known as “The Gronk” continued for a second week with a $17,500 purse on Thursday afternoon with Bet You claiming the winner’s share of the purse.
Driver Kevin Switzer, Jr. floated out third to the quarter with Bet You while Waves (Nick Graffam) took the lead. But once Waves settled, Bet You made a brush for the lead in front of the stands and then got to the half in :55. Tisadream N (Drew Monti) pulled first-over at that point and would proceed to push the leader for the rest of the mile.
Heading up the backside Tisadream N slowly made up ground despite the :27.1 pace set by Bet You, and by the top of the stretch he was within 1-1/4 lengths of the front runner. Heading down the stretch the lead continued to diminish as Tisadream N dug in, but Bet You was tough and closed out the mile on top by three-quarters of a length in 1:51 flat.
It was the third win of the year for Bet You ($8.00) who is owned by Scott Dillon. Joe Nelson is the trainer.
The track record for three-year-old pacing colts was tied on Thursday in the $15,000 condition for five-year-old and under pacers by newcomer Sports Obsession (Drew Monti) who shipped-in to Plainridge from Woodbine/Mohawk Park after a 27-day layoff and overcame post seven to go gate to wire and win by 1-3/4 lengths in 1:51.1. The time was also a new lifetime mark for the winner.
Sports Obsession ($5.00) is a son of Sportswriter-Hayworth Blue Chip that is owned by Joseph Trice and trained by Jimmy Nickerson.
Monti and Nickerson was a hot tandem on Thursday combining for three wins on the card. Besides Sports Obsession, the pair also sent OK Kudo (1:53.1, $8.60) and Givenupdreaming (1:51.4, $3.00) to the winner’s circle. Monti ended up with the driving Grand Slam adding GD Cruise For Gold (1:55.1, $5.00) to his tally for the afternoon.
Racing resumes at Plainridge Park on Friday with post time at 1 p.m.
(Standardbred Owners of Massachusetts)