Plainridge Open Goes To Hudson Phil

He hasn't been there in over a month, but his return to Plainridge Park was like a homecoming for Hudson Phil who went gate to wire scoring a narrow victory in the $20,000 Open Handicap pacing feature on Monday afternoon.

Jay Randall put Hudson Phil on the chooch while the rest of the field settled in for the journey. With Sports Obsession (Drew Monti) in the pocket and Bettor Memories (Heath Campbell) drafting third, nobody pulled until the half when Rock Candy (Jim Hardy) tried the overland route from fourth. 

Positions remained unchanged at three quarters and Hudson Phil and Sports Obsession separated a bit from the field and were postured for a stretch fight to the finish. Monti tipped Sports Obsession at the top of the lane and took aim at Hudson Phil. The pair then paced side-by-side all the way down the lane to the wire where Hudson Phil got the advantage by a head in a personal season's best time of 1:50.1. 

It was the fourth win of the year for Hudson Phil ($9.00) who is owned by Kellogg Racing Stables. Jackie Greene trains the winner.

The $17,500 conditioned pace was a real slugfest where recent Australian import Pocket Of Terror A took the prize.

Rock Diamonds N (Ron Cushing) grabbed the lead and took the field to the half in :55.1. But it was there that Pocket Of Terror A (Greg Merton) was first up in the breeze pushing the leader into the backstretch. Rock Diamonds N and Pocket Of Terror went stride for stride to three-quarters in 1:22, around the far turn and into the stretch. As they closed in on the line, Pocket Of Terror A finally drew clear and won by 1-1/4 length in 1:51. 

Pocket Of Terror A ($6.60) scored his second northern hemisphere win for owner Scheigert & Allies Racing and trainer Amanda Kelley. 

Drew Monti drove three winners on the card – two of which were trained by Randy Bickmore – making each the leader in their respective categories on Monday.

Live racing resumes at Plainridge Park on Tuesday afternoon (July 12) with post time at 4 p.m.

The Grand Circuit returns to Plainridge Park on Sunday (July 24) when the track will host the $250,000 Spirit of Massachusetts Trot and $100,000 Clara Barton Distaff Pace. Post time for the special matinee card will be at 2 p.m. 

(Standardbred Owners of Massachusetts)