Alex Having Fun appeared to be in mid-season form in only his third start of the year after he easily won the $34,722 Open Handicap Pace for Massachusetts starters in a clocking only two-fifths of a second off his lifetime mark.
Alex Having Fun and driver Drew Campbell got away fourth as Naturally Gifted A (Nick Graffam) overtook Torrid Saint A (Matty Athearn) passing the :27.1 quarter. Naturally Gifted A then took the field down to the half in :55, where Alex Having Fun pulled first-over and proceeded to take the lead from Naturally Gifted A as they went past three-quarters in 1:22. When Alex Having Fun crossed over in the last turn, he opened up a two-length advantage by the top of the stretch and maintained that gap all the way to the wire, winning in 1:50 flat. Race favourites Blazing Home N (Larry Stalbaum) and Fourever Boy (Bruce Ranger) closer for second and third, respectively.
Alex Having Fun paid $14.80 for the 6-1 win -- his first of the year and 36th lifetime. The eight-year-old Rock N Roll Heaven-Arterra gelding is trained and owned by Kimberly Vafiades.
Earlier in the secondary featured $34,722 Winners-Over Handicap Trot, But Why and driver Kevin Switzer Jr. got parked well past the :27.1 quarter by Deadline Hall (Mitchell Cushing) before finally clearing in front of the stands. From there, But Why trotted to the half in :56.2 and three-quarters in 1:24.4 with Four Sixes (Bruce Ranger) pushing the issue on the outside and Deadline Hall drafting in the pocket. When they entered the stretch and trotted for home, Deadline Hall tried to capitalize on his perfect trip by coming off cover and charging the leader. However, But Why would have none of it as he out-muscled Deadline Hall all the way to the line, winning by half a length in a new lifetime mark of 1:54. Morning Edition (Shawn Gray) rallied well from the back to nab the show dough.
But Why returned $8.40 to win as the 2-1 second choice. The four-year-old Crazy Wow-Porque gelding, who is now seven-for-12 on the season, is trained by Scott Mongeon and owned by Steven and Laura Stewart.
Kevin Switzer Jr. led all drivers on Friday by winning three races on the 11-dash card while trainers Jolene Andrews, Mike Cushing and Bob Kenney all registered two wins apiece.
There is no scheduled card of racing for Monday, May 26 in observance of Memorial Day. As such, live racing will resume at Plainridge Park on Tuesday, May 27 at 4 p.m. and there will be a $2,357 carryover in the Wicked Hi-5 pentafecta wager in the sixth race.
(With files from Standardbred Owners of Massachusetts)