They saved the best for last at Plainridge Park on Tuesday afternoon (Aug. 22) as the featured $22,500 Winners-Over Trot was carded as the final event. Little separated the short five-horse field and Big Al M’s winning margin of victory was proof of that.
Matty Athearn sent Big Al M to the front and trotted to the quarter in :28.3. But that position was short-lived as Chapheart (Nick Graffam) was by his side and cleared the lead just past that station. Chapheart maintained the point to the half where Marquis Lafayette (Bruce Ranger) overtook him and made himself the third commander of fractions. Marquis Lafayette sped up the proceedings with a :27.3 third panel, but that didn’t dissuade Sidd Finch (Drew Campbell) and Big Al M from advancing in the outer tier as they headed into the last turn. Just before the stretch, Athearn tipped Big Al M three-deep around Sidd Finch and took dead aim at Marquis Lafayette with 3-1/2 lengths to make up. But Athearn simply high-lined his trotter allowing him to do it on his own, and he did. Big Al M dug in and gobbled up ground to the line where he won by one-half length in 1:54.4.
It was the third win of the year for Big Al M ($11.80), who is owned by his trainer, Zachary Vickerson.
Earlier in the $20,000 upper-level conditioned trot, Bluffinner (Jordan Derue) got away second behind Big Box Hanover (Larry Stalbaum) but moved early to take the lead before the :56.3 half. From there, Bluffinner opened up a comfortable two-length lead as he scooted to three-quarters with little resistance from behind. Bluffinner was still on top by two at the head of the stretch and cruised home to an easy 1-1/4 length win in 1:54.4.
Bluffinner ($17.60) scored his fifth win of the year and 20th lifetime for owner/trainer Jordan Derue and FBP Racing Stable.
Driver Nick Graffam was the hot driver on Tuesday as he won four races on the card to lead all his peers. Graffam won with Bonesaw (1:56.4, $2.60), Wallet (1:56.3, $6.40), Happy Hooligan (1:56.4, $47.80) and Massive Lightning (1:55.3, $6.80), the last two which were trained by Mike Graffam, making him the top trainer of the day.
Live racing will resume at Plainridge Park on Thursday (Aug. 24) at 4 p.m. and there will be a $15,347 carryover in the Wicked Hi-5 pentafecta wager in race six.
(Standardbred Owners of Massachusetts)