After a very impressive debut in the top pacing class at Plainridge Park last week, Points North added another exclamation mark to his chart after winning again in the $25,000 Winners-Over pace on Monday afternoon.
Picking up on last week's game plan, Bruce Ranger rushed Points North to the front and controlled the pace. After laying down solid fractions of :26.3, :55.1 and 1:22.4, Points North rounded the last turn with a gapped three length advantage and started his trek down the lane under mild urging. With a fast closing Rock Diamonds N (Ron Cushing) and Lake Charles (Shawn Gray) bearing down in deep stretch, Points North maintained his lead and cruised home to a 1-1/4 length victory in 1:50.4.
Now two-for-two at Plainridge, Points North ($2.60) scored his sixth overall win of the year and pushed his earnings to $102,200 for 2022. Jim Winske, David Winske and Melissa Beckwith own the seven-year-old gelded son of Somebeachsomewhere that is trained by Melissa Beckwith.
In the $20,000 undercard feature, JK Will Power fought hard for the front and then closed out the deal with a 1-¼ length victory.
Driver Luke Hanners left with JK Will Power and tussled with Salt Life (Nick Graffam) to the quarter before clearing the front in :26.4. Positions remained the same until Acton Hanover (Bruce Ranger) came first over around the second turn and pushed the pace to three-quarters in 1:23.1. From there JK Will Power continued to pace strong to the top of the stretch where the field started to bunch behind him. But despite late charges from the tripped-out Salt Life and Rollinlikethunder (Kevin Switzer Jr.), JK Will Power hung tough and won in 1:52.3.
It was the 35th career win for JK Will Power ($5.80) who is owned by Michael Goldberg Racing and trained by Jeff Lieberman.
Cigars And Port (Wally Watson) took advantage of a class drop and short field to win the $17,500 condition pace in the day's opener. Watson left sharply with Cigars And Port and backed the half down to a pedestrian :58.1. The second half was a different story after they posted a quick :54.1 and cruise home wrapped up in a 3-1/4 length win in 1:52.2.
It was a season's best outing for Cigars And Port ($2.40) and owners Fox Ridge Stable and Wally Watson. Lisa Watson trains the winner.
Driver Drew Monti and trainer Jimmy Nickerson teamed up for a grand slam afternoon and led all other horsemen for wins on Monday. They scored with Hespoisedtopounce A (1:51.2, $10.20), Party Whip (1:54, $17.20), Calvin B (1:53, $14.40) and Tisadream N (1:53, $3.00).
Live racing resumes at Plainridge Park on Tuesday (May 3) with post time at 4 p.m.
(Standardbred Owners of Massachusetts)