After having raced at Pocono Downs and Yonkers Raceway in recent weeks, Tom Me Gun N made his first Plainridge Park start a winning one after coming up large in the $15,000 Winners-Over pacing feature on Monday afternoon.
Rock Diamonds N (Ron Cushing) went for the early lead with Tom Me Gun N (Shawn Gray) behind him, but also had Major Leaguer (Nick Graffam) parked out at his side and this was a battle that would go on for over half a mile. The horses hit the quarter in :25.4 and the half in :53.4 and at that second station, Rock Diamonds N got some separation from Major Leaguer and opened up about a two length lead.
As the race moved around the final turn, Major Leaguer faded just enough to allow Tom Me Gun N off the pylons and he came with a fast brush against Rock Diamonds N. Tom Me Gun N quickly took the lead at the top of the stretch and paced away unchallenged to a 4-1/2 length win in 1:50, which was his first North American win and a new lifetime mark.
A 10-time winner in Australia last year, Tom Me Gun N ($19.00) scored his first win of 2020 for owner the Jesmeral Stable and trainer Sheena McElhiney.
Driver Shawn Gray, trainer Sheena McElhiney an owner the Jesmeral Stable pulled off the connection hat trick, winning three races on Monday. The group scored with the aforementioned Tom Me Gun N, My Mind Is Made Up (1:52.3, $23.60) and Mr. Right Hanover (1:51, $7.60).
A pair of Massachusetts-bred horses took the pacing co-features for four-year-olds and under on Monday and both won in impressive style.
In the $15,000 division, the three-year-old gelding R Maddy Blue Chip (Kevin Switzer, Jr.) went off as the heavy favourite and didn’t disappoint as he went gate to wire and won by 1-3/4 lengths in 1:52.4, which was a new lifetime mark.
It was the second win of the year for R Maddy Blue Chip ($3.00) who is owned by Thomas Dillon and Scott Dillon and is trained by Joe Nelson.
Then in the $12,000 condition for non-winners of two, the prohibitive favourite two-year-old gelding Maui (Bruce Ranger) left from post one at 1-9 and was never headed en route to a 6-1/4 length romp in 1:54.3.
It was the second win in only three lifetime starts for Maui ($2.10) and owners KDK Standardbreds. Kevin Switzer trains the winner.
R Maddy Blue Chip and Maui will both compete in the lucrative Massachusetts Sire Stakes that start on Sunday (September 27) at The Ridge.
Racing resumes at Plainridge Park on Thursday with a new post time. The races will now begin at 2 p.m.
(Standardbred Owners of Massachusetts)