A pair of winners-over trots headlined the Thursday afternoon card at Plainridge Park and some familiar faces found their way back to the winner's enclosure.
The $25,000 top trot was once again won by Remember Titans, who made a big move at the head of the lane en route to victory.
Big Box Hanover (Larry Stalbaum) and Gigfy (Alex Chartrand) went at it hard off the gate with Gigfy grabbing the front after a :27 first quarter, but it didn't take long after he settled before challengers came from everywhere. Vesuvio Bi (Bruce Ranger) pulled first-over approaching the half and was joined by Make It A Double (Mark Athearn) and Remember Titans (Jay Randall), who was trailing the field to this point.
Heading to three-quarters the trotters remained in two rows as Vesuvio Bi put a head in front of Gigfy past that station in 1:25.3. Gigfy hung tough and didn't let Vesuvio Bi clear so Randall revved up Remember Titans and tipped him three-wide coming off the last turn. When they straightened out for home, Remember Titans was in full flight and trotted away from the pack to win convincingly by 1-¼ lengths in 1:54.4.
It was the third straight win at Plainridge Park for Remember Titans ($5.20) and owners Kellogg Racing Stables and Jackie Greene, who also trains and the winner.
In the $20,000 second division, Nows The Moment looked to be his old self in his second start back as he dominated the field from start to finish.
Kevin Switzer, Jr. left with Nows The Moment and had the top in short order. From there he matched the field through quarters of :27.2, :57.3 and 1:25.2 with Oh So Pine (Larry Stalbaum) and Trixie Dust (Alex Chartrand) tracking closest throughout the race. As the spun around the turn Nows The Moment opened up two lengths and was under a line driver by Switzer, who had his trotter wrapped up in deep stretch where he won in 1:54.1 to take a seasonal mark.
With the win, Nows The Moment ($2.40) eclipsed the $400,000 mark in lifetime earnings and now has $401,172 in the bank for owner Sonya MacDonald. Allison MacDonald trains the winner.
Drivers Drew Campbell, Heath Campbell, Shawn Gray and Jay Randall all had two wins on Thursday as did trainers Alicia Gray and Randy Bickmore.
Live racing resumes at Plainridge Park on Monday (May 9) with post time at 4 p.m.
(Standardbred Owners of Massachusetts)