April showers, a sloppy track and a frigid 36-degrees set the stage for the trot-heavy card of races at Plainridge Park on Friday afternoon but the adverse conditions could not dissuade the top effort put in by Pappy Go Go who won the $15,000 Winners-over trotting feature.
Pappy Go Go and driver Shawn Gray got away fourth in the scratch-shortened field of five, but pulled early at the eighth pole and took the lead just past the quarter and from there, cruised for the rest of the mile. After hitting the half in pedestrian :59.3 and three-quarters in 1:28.4, Gray tapped the gas and Pappy Go Go pulled away from the pursuit of Smooth Acceleration (Matty Athearn) and Waiting On A Woman (Billy Dobson) as they spiralled off the turn and headed into the stretch. While trotting away from his rivals, Pappy Go Go sped home in :28.4 and stopped the timer in 1:57.3 with a 3-3/4 length margin of victory.
Making his first start at Plainridge after a successful winter meet at the Meadowlands, Pappy Go Go ($3.00) registered his 38th lifetime win and third victory of the year for owner Michael Goldberg Racing and trainer Jeff Lieberman.
Shawn Gray finished the day with three driving wins, as did Nick Graffam.
Racing resumes at Plainridge Park on Monday (April 19) with post time at 4 p.m.
(Standardbred Owners of Massachusetts)