After assuming an unfamiliar position on the front end, Lucky Weekend turned it into an easy victory in the $20,000 Winners-Over Handicap trot at Plainridge Park on Friday afternoon.
After five straight starts racing from off the pace at Plainridge, driver Shawn Gray sent Lucky Weekend to the point and then capitalized on his decision. After getting to the half in an unchallenged and unhurried :58.1, Lucky Weekend’s first pressure came from the outer flow of Pappy Go Go (Drew Monti) and last week’s winner Smooth Aceleration (Matty Athearn).
With the competition now at his flank, Lucky Weekend sped up the third quarter to :28.1, rebuffing Pappy Go Go which then sent Smooth Aceleration three wide in the last turn. As they headed down the lane, Smooth Aceleration’s bid fell apart as well and the one horse left to argue was the pocket sitting Only Passing Thru (Wally Watson). But Lucky Weekend was not to be denied and he trotted away to a 2-1/2 length win in 1:55, which was a new seasonal mark.
It was the third win in the last five starts for Lucky Weekend ($6.00) who went over the quarter-million dollar mark lifetime with the winner’s share. Now boasting an account of $259,060, the five-year-old altered son of Lucky Chucky-Weekend Vacation is owned by the Jesmeral Stable and is trained by Sheena McElhiney.
In the secondary featured $12,500 conditioned trot, Make It A Double (Matty Athearn) lived up to his name by taking his second straight win on Friday. After leaving from post three, Make It A Double set fractions of :28, :58.2 and 1:27 before turning for home and stretching his lead to 3-1/2 lengths and a 1:56.1 victory.
It was the 19th lifetime win for the six-year-old Make It A Double ($11.40) who is owned by William Phipps and Gretchen Athearn, who also trains the winner.
Once again, Shawn Gray led all drivers for wins with three on the card.
There was a huge payoff in the ninth race Wicked Hi-5 Pentafecta wager. Despite the heavily favoured Winding Hill winning (1:56.2, $3.80), the 2-1-4-6-5 Pentafecta combination returned $18,842.76 for a 20-cent wager.
Racing resumes at Plainridge Park on Monday (May 24) with a 4 p.m. post time.
(Standardbred Owners of Massachusetts)