After a successful spring racing at Dover Downs, Bag Pipe Major has found Plainridge Park to be just as successful for him as he bagged another win in the $12,000 pacing feature on Thursday afternoon.
Bag Pipe Major (Jim Hardy) took a slow stroll on the outside through the first quarter before grabbing the lead at that pole in :27. He crossed-over to the pylons in front of the stands and then cruised along to the half in :56.2. With only an eighth of a mile breather through the first two stations, Bag Pipe Major was now staring Notabadgame (Wally Watson) in the eye as he had drawn alongside and was starting to push the issue.
Notabadgame got almost a full length ahead of the leader motoring up the backside but couldn’t quite get clear. Bag Pipe Major fought back before they hit the turn and retook the point at three-quarters. But a relentless Notabadgame still stuck like glue until the head of the stretch when Hardy flailed the lines and tapped the disk, asking his horse for more. Bag Pipe Major responded by pacing away down the lane while Hardy sat still and crossed the wire on top by three in 1:51.4.
The time was a new lifetime mark for the winner.
It was the second win in three Plainridge Park starts and the fourth win of the year for Bag Pipe Major ($3.20) who was privately purchased just four weeks ago by David and Christine Thibault and Jan Donaway. His driver Hardy also does the training. The five-year-old gelded son of Art Major and the Bettors Delight mare Delighted Again has now earned $44,920 in 12 starts this year.
Several horse people had multiple wins on the card Thursday. Drew Campbell and Mitchell Cushing led all drivers with three wins each while Jim Hardy and Nick Graffam both ended the day with a double. Trainer Elisha Lafreniere led all conditioners with a training hat trick.
Racing resumes at Plainridge Park on Friday afternoon with post time set for 4 p.m.
(Standardbred Owners of Massachusetts)