Driver Matty Athearn kept his momentum going on Thursday (July 4) afternoon at Plainridge Park as he swept both featured trots.
In the $23,288 upper-level conditioned trot, Atheran sent Big Al M to the front in :27.4 and controlled the rest of the mile from there. After backing down the half to :56.4, Big Al M sped away to three-quarters in :28.2 and opened up a three length advantage. When they came off the far turn and headed for home, Big Al M trotted away from the pack and crossed the line on top by 6-1/2 lengths in 1:54.1 to establish a new seasonal mark.
Big Al M ($4.00) is owned and trained by Zachary Vickerson.
In the earlier $20,548 conditioned event for six-year-olds and under, Athearn and Cruising Tom were parked out past the quarter in pursuit of the front running Facebook Official (Nick Graffam) who was up by two lengths at that station. Cruising Tom took over the top before the half and opened up a two length lead of his own by three-quarters. Positions remained unchanged around the turn, but in the stretch, Facebook Official found room at the pegs and started closing the gap of Cruising Tom as they approached the wire. But it would be Cruising Tom who hung on by one-half length to win in 1:55.4.
Cruising Tom ($2.40) is owned by Rick Cortese and Marc Reynolds and is trained by Jimmy Nickerson.
Athearn’s third win came behind Just Roxy (1:57, $14.60) and it made him the top driver on the holiday card.
Trainers Gretchen Athearn and Dennis Whittemore each registered two wins on Thursday.
Live racing will resume at Plainridge Park on Monday (July 8) with post time at 4 p.m. and the card will feature a $3,005 carryover in the Wicked Hi-5 in race six.
(Standardbred Owners of Massachusetts)