Powered By Mach Upsets In Plainridge Open

Overlooked by the betting public despite drawing pylon position, Powered By Mach turned in the performance of her life in the $20,000 distaff Open Handicap pacing feature at Plainridge Park on Tuesday afternoon. 

An early dust-up for the lead between Powered By Mach (Jay Randall), Sea Shadows (Bruce Ranger) and La Bella Vita N (Shawn Gray) resulted in a :26.3 first quarter with Sea Shadows ending up in control. She continued the torrid pace to the half where Adashious Hanover (Drew Monti) pulled first-over to prevent any type of breather. 

Adashious Hanover drew even with Sea Shadows at three quarters and forged ahead for the lead as they headed down the stretch. But Powered By Mach who was drafting fourth, shook loose in the center of the track and barrelled down the lane to win by a half-length margin in 1:51, giving her a new lifetime mark. 

It was the fifth win of the year for Powered By Mach who returned a generous $68.60 for the win. Fox Racing owns the winner who is trained by Jimmy Nickerson. 

There were also two mid-level condition races for all age pacers that turned in some fast miles. The first was for males and produced another lifetime mark for another Nickerson trainee, giving him the conditioning double.

Drew Monti sent Hespoisedtopounce A off the car to tangle with Jack Roger (Matty Athearn) and Level Up (Jay Randall) for the lead, and once he gained the front he dictated the pace. After backing off the half to :56.2, Level Up pulled first up and pushed the pace to :26.4 in the third panel. But Hespoisedtopounce A fought back that challenge, turned for home and swelled up by three lengths in :27.4 to win in a career best 1:51.

It was the fourth victory of the year for Hespoisedtopounce A ($8.40) who is owned by Tony Gruppo and Tim Bojarski. 

The second of the class was for mares and Amini put in a gutsy effort en route to her third victory of the year. 

Mc Kella (Bruce Ranger) was calling the shots on the point and managed a moderate :56 half in her favour. But Amini (Jay Randall) pulled first over in a snappy :28.1 third panel, tipped three-deep at three quarters and was stout while rebuffing late charges by Miss Irish Rose A (Larry Stalbaum) and Miss Pammy Jo (Shawn Gray) to hang on by a half-length margin in 1:53.3. 

Amini ($7.60) is owned by Karma Racing and is trained by Elisha Lafreniere. Amini also gave her driver Randall his third win of the day. 

Live racing resumes at Plainridge Park on Thursday afternoon (July 7) with post time at 4 p.m.

On Thursday Plainridge Park will welcome author Amber Sawyer to the track when she will be signing copies of her latest book, “Love To Race.” It’s a children’s book telling a story through the eyes of retired Standardbred racehorse Derek Bromac N.

Sawyer has a long career in harness racing and her love of horses, being a freelance writer and a mother was the perfect combination that led to this publication that exposes children to harness racing in a wonderful manner.

The Standardbred Owners of Massachusetts will sponsor the distribution of free signed books to the first 20 kids — age 12 and under — who attend the live races at Plainridge that day and come down to meet the author. Each child must be accompanied by an adult in order to request a free book.

The book signing will start at 3:30 p.m. in front of the grandstand near the winner’s circle. Copies of the books are $15 each.

(Standardbred Owners of Massachusetts)