A pair of $26,027 upper-level conditioned paces were featured on Thursday, June 26 at Plainridge Park and those horses shared a common bond.
In the first division, Lifes A Puzzle and driver Nick Graffam seated ER Griffin (Brett Beckwith) and Instant Replay (Kevin Switzer Jr.) on his way to the quarter in :26.3. From there, Lifes A Puzzle continued to dictate that pace, hitting the half in :55 and three-quarters in 1:22.2 while Instant Replay and ER Griffin continued to pressure from behind. But that pressure was relieved by Lifes A Puzzle as he rounded the final turn and paced home the best by 1-3/4 lengths in a seasonal best, 1:50.2.
Now a 15-time winner with $308,786 in earnings, Lifes A Puzzle ($7.00) is owned by Richard Humphrey and trained by Gerald Mac Kenzie Jr.
Then later in the second split, Graffam got away fifth with Sweet Jeff IR as So Rock N Roll (Bruce Ranger) led the field to the half in :55.2. There, an outer flow was in motion and led by Anvil Hands (Jim Hardy) who provided a draft for Sweet Jeff IR, who was one out and one back as they proceeded up the backstretch. So Rock N Roll held the lead around the third turn but at the top of the stretch, Anvil Hands momentarily took command before Sweet Jeff IR forged ahead of him and held sway to the line where he won a half length in 1:52.
Sweet Jeff IR ($4.80) is owned by Burke Racing and Weaver Bruscemi and trained by Joe Nelson. Today's victory was the fifth lifetime for the son of Sweet Lou, lifting his earnings to $203,809.
Graffam also lit up the board in the sixth race with Skyway Masterpiece after being sent off at odds of 50-1 from post nine. Skyway Masterpiece brushed late to win by one-quarter length in a season's best 1:50.4 and paid $102.90.
'Slick Nick' then closed out Graffam's four-bagger behind Sweet Street Lou, who turned in a new lifetime mark of 1:51.1 while returning a healthy $11.40 for the win.
Live harness racing will resume at Plainridge Park on Friday, June 27 at 4 p.m.
(with files from Plainridge)