With having only four starts over the last 18 months coming into Friday's race, Mambo Lindy looked like he did during his career-best 2017 season after he won the $12,000 Winners Over Handicap Trot at Plainridge Park in convincing fashion.
Mambo Lindy (Drew Monti) left from post seven and tucked in third while Nows The Moment (Mike Stevenson) shot to the lead. After the field hit the quarter in :27, Monti rolled Mambo Lindy up the rim and drew alongside Nows The Moment past the half. The pair squared off as they straightened up the backstretch and matched strides in a swift :27.2 third panel.
As they motored around the last turn, Nows The Moment took back the lead by one-half length and it looked like he may have put his challenger behind him for good. But Mambo Lindy swelled up at the head of the stretch and started trotting up a storm. Under a mere line drive, Mambo Lindy forged his way by Nows The Moment and opened up a length lead at the wire to win in 1:53.1.
The time was a new seasonal mark for Mambo Lindy ($4.60) and his fastest win time since September 30, 2017 when he trotted his career-best 1:51.4 at Lexington.
It was the 25th lifetime win in only 48 starts for the eight-year-old son of Donato Hanover-Rum Boogie who has now earned $245,660 for his owner Greathorse. Mambo Lindy is trained by Domenico Cecere.
Matty “Ice” Athearn and Mitchell Cushing both had driving doubles during Friday afternoon while Gretchen Athearn led all trainers with two wins of her own.
The Wicked Hi-5 carryover pool continues to grow with no unique winners in either the sixth or ninth race once again on Friday. When live racing resumes at Plainridge Park on Monday (July 8), the carryover pool for the sixth race Pentafecta will be a track record $29,477. Post time for the first race is 4 p.m.
(With files from Standardbred Owners of Massachusetts)