Two $8,500 conditioned paces highlighted the card at Plainridge Park on Tuesday afternoon (April 11) and the public heavily supported both winners.
Lukes Cowboy, who most recently competed in the Sagamore Hill Series at Yonkers Raceway, brought a heightened sense of awareness to Plainridge and threw the best race of his life.
Tucking fourth off the gate, Lukes Cowboy (Bruce Aldrich Jr.) watched as Rockin Delight (Eddie Davis Jr.) and Suellen (Greg Merton) took turns with the lead while cutting the half in :55.4. At that station, Aldrich pulled his charge and started motoring up the outside as the group moved towards three-quarters.
In a slow and methodic march, Lukes Cowboy eventually drew even with the front-running Suellen around the last turn and then, with two-taps from his driver, drew clear for the lead. At that point, the gelding swelled up and pulled away from the field with Aldrich a mere passenger, winning the race in 1:53.4. The time was a new lifetime mark.
The win was the second in nine starts this year for Lukes Cowboy ($3.20) and it raised his annual earnings to $19,900. The four-year-old gelded son of Brandons Cowboy is owned by Lester Gelardi Jr. of Mahopac, New York and Anthony Passafaro of Mamaroneck, New York. Lukes Cowboy is trained by Monique Cohen.
In the co-featured fourth race, Biggie shipped in from The Meadowlands off a solid third-place finish and simply destroyed the field to claim his first win of the year.
Starting from post seven, Biggie (Greg Merton) left for position and dropped in fourth while Gingertreefinnegan (Jim Hardy) and Checkisinthemail (Eddie Davis Jr.) argued for the front. Merton got Biggie underway just before the half and found himself on top and in control by two lengths before they hit three-quarters.
As the rest of the field struggled to keep up, Merton raised the lines just a bit and Biggie switched into glide, opening up an 11-length lead before he hit the wire. Merton had him wrapped up in hand and won in 1:55.1, off a back half in :56.4.
Biggie ($2.60) is owned by Michael Huff of Carmel, Maine and is trained by Scott Rollins.
Four drivers won all eight races on Tuesday. Jim Hardy, Steve Nason, Greg Merton and Bruce Aldrich Jr. all had driving doubles. On the conditioning side, Cohen and Rollins both saw two stable members be victorious.
Racing resumes at Plainridge Park on Thursday afternoon (April 13) with post time set for 4 p.m.
(With files from Plainridge Park)