For the second straight week, Alex Having Fun came from off the pace to capture the $34,247 Open pacing feature at Plainridge Park on Thursday (May 29) afternoon.
Heineken Bythebay (Kevin Switzer Jr.) grabbed the lead and took the field to the half in :55.2. At that point an outer flow had formed with Alex Having Fun (Drew Campbell) leading the way and Solesseo Matuca A (Drew Monti) following right on his back.
Positions remained unchanged passing three-quarters in 1:22.2, and as the group headed into the final turn. When they entered the stretch, Alex Having Fun was wearing down Heinikin Bythebay and quickly took the lead while pulling away at the light in 1:50.1.
Alex Having Fun ($8.20) is owned and trained by Kimberly Vafiades.
In the undercard $26,027 upper-level conditioned pace, Rocknroll Runa A (Bruce Ranger) captured his first win of the year after taking the lead passing the quarter, rebuffing a challenge by Renaissance Deo (Ron Cushing) at three-quarters and then holding off a late rush from the pocket-sitting Torrid Saint A (Brett Beckwith) to win easily by 1-1/2 lengths in 1:50.4.
Rocknroll Runa A ($3.40) is owned and trained by Larry Stalbaum.
Earlier in the card in a $23,288 conditioned race for five-year-olds and younger, Whats For Suppaah (Shawn Gray) scored his fourth consecutive win in a gate to wire, lifetime best clocking of 1:52 flat. Owned and trained by Michelle Hardin, Whats For Suppaah returned $6.60.
Drivers Brett Beckwith, Drew Campbell and Kevin Switzer Jr. all had doubles during the day while trainer Jimmy Nickerson scored a hat trick to lead all conditioners on Thursday.
Live racing will resume at Plainridge Park on Friday (May 30) at 4 p.m.
(Standardbred Owners of Massachusetts)