The field saw nothing but his heels because Rock Diamonds N led from gate to wire as he won the $14,000 Winners-Over pacing feature at Plainridge Park on Thursday afternoon.
Ron Cushing took early control with Rock Diamonds N and went full throttle with him during the race. After setting quarters of :26.3, :55.1 and 1:22, Rock Diamonds N spun off the last turn with a 3-1/2 length advantage and with minimal urging down the lane, held off a fast closing Starznheaven (Jay Randall) to win in 1:50.1.
For Rock Diamonds N, the time was a new seasonal mark and only one-fifth of a second of his lifetime best. It was also the second win of the year for the seven-year-old Rocknroll Hanover-Dancing Diamonds gelding who is owned by Kevin Sywyk, Ron Cushing and Frank Ranaldi. Heidi Gibbs trains the winner.
In the $12,000 upper-level conditioned pacing event, Beachchip Hanover (Shawn Gray) pulled first over from fifth and tracked down a headstrong Zack Lee (Dan Deslandes) who had been marching on the point from the start, to win by 1/2 length in 1:53.1.
It was the second consecutive win for Beachchip Hanover ($9.20) and owners Jeffrey Epstein, Ronald Bolduc and Steven Gondelman. Jamie Gerard is the trainer.
Another $12,000 condition race for five-year-olds and under saw Major Crisis A (Mitchell Cushing) leave four-deep from post eight, take the lead before the half and then race neck and neck with OK Kudo (Jay Randall) from that point until the wire where he won by a neck in 1:52.4, which was a new lifetime mark.
Major Crisis A ($4.40) captured his fifth win of the year for owners Kevin Quinn and Phillip Zabielski. Paul Zabielski is the trainer.
Shawn Gray led all drivers with two wins on the card while trainers Randy Bickmore and Jolene Andrews also won two races each. Andrews completed a full day as she also scored a driving win in the first with Denver Dolly (1:55.2, $3.20) in the New England Amateurs Driver’s race.
Racing resumes at Plainridge Park on Friday at 4 p.m.
(Standardbred Owners of Massachusetts)