Big Box Hanover put up big boy numbers at Plainridge Park on Monday (July 7) afternoon as he scored the fastest trotting mile of the meet and a new lifetime mark of 1:52.3 in the featured $33,784 Open trot.
Nick Graffam took no prisoners with Big Box Hanover as he decisively seated By The Book (Kevin Switzer Jr.) going to the quarter in :27. Graffam then backed off the half to a soft :56 before Morning Edition (Shawn Gray) pulled first-over and drew alongside the leader at three-quarters after a snappy :27.3 panel.
With the top three tightly bunched around the far turn, Big Box Hanover continued to set the tempo and entered the stretch looking very much a winner. But he needed to hold off Morning Edition and a fast-closing By The Book before he crossed the line in front by one-quarter length to close out his career best, 1:52.3 outing.
It was the 58th lifetime win for Big Box Hanover ($10.20). The eight-year-old gelded son of Uncle Peter-Box Of Dreams is owned and trained by Larry Stalbaum.
The very next race was the secondary featured $28,378 upper-level conditioned trot where the Massachusetts-bred Bravado upset the field at 48-1 while also taking a new lifetime mark.
Bill Bauer (Shawn Gray) led the field through quarters of :27.1 and :57.1 while Bravado (Kevin Switzer Jr.) got away eighth and last before coming second-over behind Snowpiercer (Drew Monti). Snowpiercer continued to pressure Bill Bauer to three-quarters and around the last turn where Bravado tipped-off cover and bolted home to a half-length victory in a career best 1:54.
It was the fourth win in only seven starts this year for Bravado ($99.20). The five-year-old gelded son of Trixton-Bourbon N Grits is owned by Ray Campbell Jr. and Al Ross and trained by Gretchen Athearn.
Brett Beckwith was the leading driver on Monday after he won three races during the day while Melissa Beckwith and Domenico Cecere were the top trainers with two wins apiece.
Live racing will resume at Plainridge Park on Tuesday (July 8) at 4 p.m. and there will be a $7,343 USD carryover in the Wicked Hi-5 pentafecta in race six.
(With files from The Standardbred Owners of Massachusetts)