Trainer Domenico Cecere and owner Greathorse sent Sforza and Marquis Lafayette postward in the featured $34,722 Open Trot at Plainridge Park on Thursday, Aug. 21 and watched them finish first and second in the featured event.
Brett Beckwith sent Sforza right to the front as Marquis Lafayette (Bruce Ranger) settled in fourth early. Sforza completed the quarter in :27.4 and went to the half in :56.4 before Marquis Lafayette moved first-over as they spun around turn two.
As they motored up the backstretch, Marquis Lafayette made up more than two lengths and was moving alongside Sforza by the time they reached three-quarters in 1:24.4, but that’s as close as Sforza would let him get. When the trotters entered the stretch, Beckwith asked for more, and Sforza delivered by opening up a two-length advantage over Marquis Lafayette to win in a lifetime best of 1:53. Memorynimagination (Matt Athearn) was third.
Sforza tallied his third win of the season in seven starts. The four-year-old son of Walner-Gran Cavalla has earned $170,838 and won 10 times in 26 career races. He returned $3 to win.
In the $27,778 upper-level conditioned trot, Pepper Wow (Drew Campbell) made a first-over move against the front-stepping Heavens Pic (Aaron Byron) past the half, caught him on the last turn, and trotted away down the lane to a 1-1/2-length victory in 1:54.2. Bill Bauer (Nick Graffam) finished third. Pepper Wow ($9) is owned by Earl and Kathy Beaman and Shirley Michaud. Ivan Davies trains the four-year-old entire by Crazy Wow-Tori Hall.
Bruce Ranger had a grand slam in the bike to lead all drivers on Thursday, while 11 different trainers each won one race apiece.
The Jackpot Wicked Hi-5 Pentafecta was hit in the sixth race when the single unique combination of 2-5-4-3-8 returned $9891.70 for the 20-cent wager.
Live racing will resume at Plainridge Park on Monday at 4 p.m.
(Plainridge Park)