Binge On Yankee has been knocking on the door of the top class at Plainridge Park for the past two weeks, and on Thursday, May 7, he knocked it down by winning the featured $34,247 Open Handicap Pace.
Mitchell Cushing got him away fourth as Sweethomealabama N (Cory Stratton) led the field to the quarter in :26.4 and half in :55. At that station, Cushing sent Binge On Yankee into the breeze and marched him into second at three-quarters in 1:23.4, a half-length behind the leading Sweethomealabama N.
Binge On Yankee continued to advance through the last turn and had gained the lead heading into the stretch. From there, he paced with conviction to the line to win by three-quarters of a length in 1:52 ahead of the fast-closing Two Fold Cold (Dave Ingraham). Belmont Royale N (Aaron Byron) finished third.
The win was the second in four 2026 starts for the bettors' choice, Binge On Yankee ($3.80). He finished second in the Open on April 20, then closed from last to be fifth by 1-1/2 lengths in the class last time. The six-year-old son of Stay Hungry-Bootleg Yankee, now 19-for-92 lifetime, is owned by trainer Mark Eaton in partnership with Robert Griffin.
In the $26,712 upper-level conditioned pace, Rockin On Venus (Shawn Gray) sat second behind Heinikin Bythebay (Jay Randall) through fractions of :27, :54 and 1:22.1. The leader was then engaged by Jackson Cooper (Nick Graffam) heading into the final turn, and the top two battled through that bend, but at the same time, Gray tipped Rockin On Venus from the pocket spot and swung three-deep into the stretch. Rockin On Venus then bolted past them both en route to a 1:51 victory by two lengths. Heinikin Bythebay beat Jackson Cooper for place.
Rockin On Venus ($11.60) now has two wins in his last three starts for trainer Enrico Robinson and owner Pollack Racing LLC. The eight-year-old Rockin Image-Venus Killean stallion is three-for-11 this year and 35-for-138 lifetime.
Mitchell Cushing and Kevin Switzer Jr. both scored driving hat tricks on the 11-race Thursday card. A training double was achieved by Enrico Robinson.
Racing resumes at Plainridge on Monday at 4 p.m. There will be a $5,546 carryover in the Wicked Hi-5 pentafecta wager in the sixth race.
(Standardbred Owners of Massachusetts)