It was 95 degrees in Plainville, Massachusetts on Monday but the temperature wasn’t the only thing that was hot at Plainridge Park. Driver Drew Monti won five of the 11 races on the card including a natural hat trick in races five, six and seven.
Monti’s top win came in the $20,000 featured Freedom Trail pacing final for Plainridge-based horses and geldings with Cherokee Hiflyzane.
After getting away third behind the front-stepping GD Cruise For Gold (Bruce Ranger), Cherokee Hiflyzane pulled first-over before the half, cleared on the backside and then opened up a 1-1/2 length lead at the top of the stretch. From there he held off a fast closing Mansome (Pat Curtain) down the lane and hung on to win in 1:53, which was a new seasonal mark.
It was the second win in two 2020 starts for Cherokee Hiflyzane ($4.60) who has now bankrolled $15,000 for owners Barrie Farrar and Roger Farrar, who also trains the winner.
Monti rounded out his five-bagger with Tucker Creek (1:52.4, $3.60), Magic Joe Lindy (1:52.2, $2.20), Tisadream N (1:52, $3.00) and What A Hooligan (1:54, $6.20).
Driver Kevin Switzer, Jr. and trainer Benson Merrill each scored two wins on Monday as well.
The biggest payouts of the meet so far occurred in the fourth race when 24-1 shot Western Victory (Wally Watson) steamrolled home in :28.4 to win in 1:52.2, 2-1/4 lengths ahead of 45-1 shot Commondiscourtesy (Nick Graffam). Besides the $50.20 win and $39.60 place prices, the $2 Exacta combination of 6-8 paid $1,017, the $2 6-8-4 Trifecta returned a whopping $18,667.20 and the $2 Superfecta of 6-8-4-2 retuned $11,808.40.
Racing resumes at Plainridge Park on Thursday (July 23) at 4 p.m. On Sunday (July 26), Plainridge Park will host the Grand Circuit featuring the $250,000 Spirit of Massachusetts Trot and the $100,000 Clara Barton Distaff Pace during a special matinee card that gets underway at 2 p.m.
(Standardbred Owners of Massachusetts)