Coming from off the pace, Alex Having Fun finished with a flurry to win the $27,397 featured conditioned pace at Plainridge Park on Monday afternoon, May 13.
Bruce Ranger got away fourth with Alex Having Fun while Skyway Victor (Jay Randall) marched off quarters of :26.3 and :55.2. As the race went by the half, Ranger had Alex Having Fun out and rolling first-over and drew alongside Skyway Victor at three-quarters. Those two then matched strides around the last turn and into the stretch where the tripping Little Willy (Brett Beckwith) found room at the pegs and joined the fray. Alex Having Fun finally got ahead of Skyway Victor in deep stretch and then held off a late rush from Little Willy to win by a neck in 1:50.3, tying his lifetime mark.
Owned and trained by Kimberly Vafiades, Alex Having Fun ($5.60), a seven-year-old Rock N Roll Heaven gelding, earned his second win of the year from five starts.
The win was one of three victories for Ranger, who led all other drivers for wins on Monday.
Co-featured undercard paces, both valued at $23,288, were also programmed on Monday and both of those winners also came from behind.
In the first, Lifes A Puzzle (Kevin Switzer Jr.) lagged fifth off the gate as Taste Of Honey (Brett Beckwith) set up shop on the point. Alta Classic A (Ron Cushing) moved first-over at the half while Lifes A Puzzle waited until three-quarters to move outside. As they came out of the last turn, Lifes A Puzzle tipped three-wide before barrelling down the stretch to circle the field and win by a length in 1:51.3, taking a seasonal mark.
Lifes A Puzzle ($9.40) is owned by Richard Humphrey and trained by Alison Hynes.
In the second split, The Wild Card (Nick Graffam) got away fourth as Bereaved Hanover (Kevin Switzer Jr.) called the shots to the half. As the field bunched into two rows on the backstretch, The Wild Card was second-over following the cover of Issac (Shawn Gray) to three-quarters. But immediately after that station, Graffam tipped The Wild Card three-wide and paced away from the field as they hit the stretch. The Wild Card bolted home in :27.4 by 5-1/2 lengths and won in 1:51, also taking a seasonal mark.
The Wild Card ($2.80) is owned by Scott Dillon and trained by Joe Nelson.
The Wicked Hi-5 pentafecta was hit in the ninth race. The single unique winning combination of 9-5-8-3-2 returned $2,534.52 for a 20-cent wager.
Racing resumes at Plainridge Park on Tuesday, May 14 with post time at 4 p.m. and the card will feature a $2,729 carryover in the Wicked Hi-5 in race six.
(With files from Standardbred Owners of Massachusetts)