Trainer Domenico Cecere and driver Bruce Ranger both had huge afternoons at Plainridge Park on Monday, June 2 after winning five races apiece during the 11-race program.
Cecere had a perfect afternoon after starting five trotters from his stable who all came away with a win. Cecere's victories included a natural grand slam in races three through six.
Cecere students who visited the winner's enclosure on Monday included Global Heritage (1:57.2, $2.10), Tactical Moni (1:56.2, $2.20), Castle Lindy (1:57.2, $3), Sforza (1:54, $8) and Murial (1:55.3, $4).
Ranger’s wins included three of Cecere's starters (Global Heritage, Castle Lindy and Sforza) along with Grafenberg (1:56.2, $9.60) and Novel (1:55.1, $10.60).
Cecere and Ranger’s biggest win of the day was when they teamed up with Sforza, who took the $26,027 upper-level conditioned trot, which was the secondary featured race. Sforza cut fractions of :27.1, :56.3 and 1:25.1 while the heavily favoured Asteroid (Brett Beckwith) sat a perfect trip in the pocket. When they turned for home, Asteroid was out and rolling and matched strides with Sforza all the way to the wire. But Sforza would not give way and hung on to win by a nose in 1:54. Sforza is owned by Greathorse.
The feature race of the day was the $34,247 Winners-Over Handicap Trot where Morning Edition delivered good news for his connections.
A little over a quarter-mile was needed for driver Shawn Gray to get the lead with Morning Edition ($12), but once he cleared in front of the stands, he was unbeatable. Morning Edition got to the half in :56.1 and three-quarters in 1:24.3 with Duly Resolved (Brett Beckwith) pushing the issue during those fractions. After rounding the last turn, Morning Edition maintained a slim advantage as the field fanned out in chase behind him and held on to win by one-half length in 1:53.4.
Morning Edition is trained by Alicia Gray is owned by Mark Jakubik and Douglas Overhiser.
Live harness racing will resume at Plainridge Park on Tuesday, June 3 at 4 p.m.
(Standardbred Owners of Massachusetts)