The Massachusetts-bred three-year-old Dazzling Lindy (Crazed-Lindy On The Rocks) escaped an impossible spot and rallied to win a $12,000 conditioned race for four-year-old and under trotters at Plainridge Park on Friday afternoon (August 21).
Jake Gs Champion (Kevin Switzer Jr.) was the early master of fractions, marching the field to the half in :58.2. Passing that station, Dixie Slippers (Wally Watson) pulled first-over and advanced towards the leader by three-quarters while Just Dreamin (Mike Stevenson) and Southwind Surge (Mitchell Cushing) followed behind outside. At this point, Dazzling Lindy (Drew Monti) was locked up fifth at the rail.
As they headed around the last turn, Dixie Slippers opened up a length lead and Dazzling Lindy was able to get off the pylons and swing three-deep at the head of the stretch. Heading towards the wire, Dixie Slippers was trotting inside, Just Dreamin was in the middle and Dazzling Lindy was on the grandstand side, and all three were charging hard. Just before the wire, the leader tired and Dazzling Lindy out-trotted Just Dreamin to win by a half-length in 1:55.4, which was a new lifetime mark.
The win was the second in three 2020 starts for Dazzling Lindy ($5.40), who is owned by Lindy Farms of Connecticut and trained by Domenico Cecere.
Dazzling Lindy is eligible to compete in the Massachusetts Sire Stakes, which start in late September.
In the $10,500 secondary trotting feature, Dial A Chic (Joe Di Stefano) was overlooked at the windows but took full advantage of a class drop and scored again at The Ridge by going gate to wire in 1:55.4 in a convincing performance. Dial A Chic ($18.80) scored his third win in the last four starts for owner Di Stefano and Son Stable and trainer John Di Stefano.
Plainridge’s defending driving champion Mitchell Cushing scored a natural hat trick in races two through four on Friday to lead all drivers for the day. Drew Monti and Kevin Switzer Jr. also scored two driving wins each. Two winners also emanated from the stable of trainer John Di Stefano.
With seven weeks of the meet now completed, the current race for top driving honours has one of the best competitions in progress that Plainridge Park has seen in many years. After Friday’s races, Drew Monti is the current leader with 31 wins followed by Mitchell Cushing with 27, Shawn Gray with 23, Bruce Ranger with 22 and Kevin Switzer Jr. with 20.
The same can be said about the tournament for top trainer that currently shows Mike Girouard and Joe Nelson in a tie for first with 11 wins apiece followed by Domenico Cecere with 10, Randy Bickmore with nine and Mike Graffam with eight.
Racing resumes at Plainridge Park on Monday afternoon (August 24) with post time at 4 p.m.
(Standardbred Owners of Massachusetts)