After almost getting locked in at the three-quarters, Lord Magnetic shook loose and scored his fourth straight victory in the $17,500 pacing feature at Plainridge Park on Monday afternoon.
Driver Aaron Hall maintained his pylon position off the gate and got away second behind Come On Raags (Kevin Switzer, Jr.) who paced to the quarter in :26.4. As the field moved in front of the stands, Datguyna Greensuit (Jay Randall) was already out and rolling and Momentsthatmatter (Jim Hardy) was right on his tail.
Halfway up the backstretch, Come On Raags quickly began to falter and somehow Hall was able to get Lord Magnetic out and around him while Datguyna Greensuit and Momentsthatmatter were still bunched on the outside. After that move Lord Magnetic cleared, swelled up on the lead and paced away to an impressive four length win in 1:52.4.
In what is already a career year for him, Lord Magnetic ($18.20) claimed his fourth win in only five starts and pushed his earnings to $30,250 for owners Jason Vafiades and Debron Stables. Kimberly Vafiades trains the winner.
Earlier in the $15,000 conditioned pace for five-years-olds and younger, Striking Impact followed live cover past the half to score a fast closing victory in deep stretch.
Post time favourite American Artist K (Kevin Switzer, Jr.) left sharply and led the field to the half in :56.2. There, an outer flow was on the march led by Lindas In Heaven (Drew Campbell) who was joined by Anvil Hands (Jim Hardy) and Striking Impact (Drew Monti) third over. As the group spiralled off the last turn, Anvil Hands tipped three deep around Linda's In Heaven and Striking Impact then went four wide at the top of the stretch and out-paced Anvil Hands to the wire to grab a half-length win in 1:53.3.
It was the third win in six 2022 starts for Striking Impact ($7.60) who is owned by Fox Racing, his trainer Jimmy Nickerson and his driver Drew Monti.
There is a large and growing carryover of $18,558 available in the sixth race Wicked Hi-5 wager when live racing resumes at
(Standardbred Owners of