After a successful stint at Yonkers Raceway, Nows The Moment returned to Plainridge Park and reclaimed top honours after dominating in the $17,500 winners-over trot on Monday afternoon.
Nows The Moment (Mike Stevenson) left three-deep into the first turn and took the lead before the quarter in a blistering :26.2. Mister Muscle (Bruce Ranger), who was tracking right behind him, then grabbed the front right after he cleared as they passed by the stands. Not content with the trip, Nows The Moment once again pulled to retake and did so before the half in :54.3.
An eighth of a mile later, Eurobond (Drew Monti) was out and rolling towards the two-move leader to press the issue further. They trotted past three-quarters in 1:23.1 and tangled into the stretch when Nows The Moment started to kick away and opened up a two length advantage. With Stevenson keeping him on task, Nows The Moment maintained his lead to the wire over a late closing If Not Why Not (Kevin Switzer) and won in 1:53.2.
Nows The Moment ($7.20) has now earned $86,700 on the strength of six wins this year for owner Sonya McDonald. Alex MacDonald is the trainer.
In the secondary featured $15,000 conditioned trot, two-time Massachusetts Sire Stake champion Without A Warning (Shawn Gray) extended her winning streak to six in a row after she took the lead past the quarter, fought off a challenge from Dazzling Lindy (Drew Monti) at three-quarters and trotted away down the lane to a wrapped-up 1-1/2 length win over Southwind Frost (Mitchell Cushing) in 1:54.3.
Without A Warning ($2.40) is a three-year-old filly who swept the MASS for two consecutive years and now boasts $424,822 in lifetime earnings on the strength of 12 wins in only 26 career starts for breeder/owner Ray Campbell, Jr. George Ducharme trains the winner.
Shawn Gray, Nick Graffam and Mike Stevenson all had two driving wins on Monday while Mike Graffam led all trainers with two wins as well.
Racing resumes at Plainridge Park on Thursday (Nov. 12) with post time at 1 p.m.
(Standardbred Owners of Massachusetts)