A steady rain and deteriorating track conditions did not prevent fast times at Plainridge Park as Hickory Icon and A Sweet Ride lit up the timer and their competition in winning co-featured paces on Thursday afternoon.
In the $15,000 Open Handicap, Hickory Icon (Shawn Gray) got an early lead before yielding to St Lads Moonwalk (Greg Merton) past the quarter in :26.1. Content to take the two-hole trip, Gray stayed in and positions remained unchanged to the half. Past that station, Memory Game (Kevin Switzer, Jr.) pulled first-over and tried to challenge the leaders. But that bid was short lived as he faded into the last turn, giving the pocket-sitting stalker an open door.
Hickory Icon pulled at the seven-eighths pole and went right by St Lads Moonwalk like he was tied to it. From there Hickory Icon paced away under no urging from Gray who buggy-rode to victory by five lengths in 1:50.1.
It was the ninth win of the year for Hickory Icon ($3.40) and his second straight Open win at Plainridge Park. The winner’s share ballooned his 2017 earnings $91,660 for owner Jessica Smith and trainer Randal Smith.
In the $15,000 “Old Ironsides” conditioned event, A Sweet Ride was in a league of his own as he demolished his field of high-class side-wheelers.
The race was decided as soon as it began when A Sweet Ride left first, took the lead and never looked back once he got there. Sprinting effortlessly through fractions of :26.3, :54.3 and 1:22.1, A Sweet Ride extended his advantage from two to three to five lengths heading into the last turn.
At the top of the stretch Chris Long had established a ten-length lead yet continued to prompt his mount towards the wire. A Sweet Ride kept to his task and was the easiest kind of winner in 1:51, which was a new seasonal mark.
It was the 49th career victory for A Sweet Ride ($5.20) who now boasts lifetime earnings of $492,767. Phillip Scott McKenzie owns the eight-year-old gelded son of Dontgetinmyway who is trained by Jamie Gerard.
Kevin Switzer, Jr., Shawn Gray and Greg Merton all had driving doubles while Joe Nelson had two winners on the training side.
Live racing resumes at Plainridge Park on Friday with post time set at 4 p.m. There is a $12,658 carryover pool for Wicked Hi-5 Pentafecta wager that is featured in the sixth race.
(Standardbred Owners of Massachusetts)