Coming off a disappointing break-marred start one week ago, Eurobond bounced back in style to soundly defeat six opponents in the $20,000 Open Handicap trot at Plainridge Park on Friday afternoon.
Driver Bruce Ranger floated Eurobond off the car and sauntered to the lead by the quarter in :28 flat. The field stayed close to the leader for the half but that was about to change. As Eurobond trotted by the five-eighths pole he started to create separation. He opened up a four-length advantage in a quick :27.4 third panel and extended that to seven at the top of the stretch. With no one around to give chase, Eurobond trotted the last eighth of a mile under Ranger-wraps and won going away by 8-3/4 in 1:53.
In scoring his second win of the year, Eurobond ($7.20) also took a new seasonal mark for owners Lindy Farms of Connecticut and Robert Rudolf. Domenico Cecere is the trainer.
In the co-featured $15,000 Winners-Over trot, Inxs (Shawn Gray) got away fourth before coming first over at the half to track down the strong front-running Mystical Somolli (Drew Campbell). The two drew even at the seven-eighths pole before Inxs trotted clear. He then held off a late rush from Make It A Double (Matty Athearn) to win by a neck in 1:55.4, which was his best effort of the year.
Inxs ($3.80) notched his third victory of 2021 for owners Sandra Beaulieu and Robert Killean. Rachel Beaulieu trains the winner.
The win with Inxs in the fifth race was the start of a natural Hat Trick for driver Shawn Gray who also won the sixth with Gracie Under Fire (1:58.1, $6.20) and the seventh with Raise The Ante (1:55.4, $3.60).
Live racing will reconvene at Plainridge Park on Monday (May 31) with post time at 4 p.m.
(Standardbred Owners of Massachusetts)