Plainridge Features To Sundown Kid, Northern Kid

A large Memorial Day crowd was on hand at Plainridge Park on a hot Monday afternoon (May 30) for an 11-race card that featured a pair of $12,500 condition races.

The first was a pace and Sundown Kid (Nick Graffam) set a personal season’s mark in victory. Graffam left from post five with Sundown Kid and led for the rest of the race. After stepping off snappy fractions of :27.2, :55.4 and 1:23.2, Sundown Kid turned for home with a two-length advantage that he extended to 3-3/4 at the line where he won wrapped-up in 1:52.

A former Woodbine Mohawk Park regular, Sundown Kid ($3.80) is owned by Kevin Gee, Robert Kopack and his trainer Randy Bickmore, who just purchased the horse prior to this start on May 20.

The top trot on Monday went to Northern Sultan (Mike Stevenson) who made the most of a class drop to capture his first win of the year. Northern Sultan sat second behind Bluebird Rocky (Mark Athearn) until deep stretch where he snuck through room at the pylons to take command and hold off the late charging No time To Play (Jay Randall) and Sortie Hanover (Bruce Ranger) and claim his first win of the year by a half-length margin in 1:55.4.

Northern Sultan ($5) is owned and trained by Bill Krikorian.

Drivers Drew Campbell and Drew Monti each had two wins on the card as did trainers Randy Bickmore and Jimmy Nickerson.

Live racing resumes at Plainridge Park on Tuesday afternoon (May 31) at 4 p.m. 

(Standardbred Owners of Massachusetts)