Ontario-bred sophomore trotter New Legacy had been racing well in limited action this year with two wins in only nine starts and a mark of 1:56.3 to his credit. But he really turned a corner on Friday (August 6) in a $12,500 conditioned event for six-year-olds and under at Plainridge Park when he led all but an eighth of the mile in a sparkling effort to set a new standard of 1:54 for three-year-old trotting geldings.
Drew Monti put New Legacy on the point off the gate but relinquished the front to Dazzling Lindy (Bruce Ranger) at the quarter. The new leader was short-lived as New Legacy immediately retook control in front of the stands and then never looked back again.
Monti hit the brakes to the half in :57.3, but got down to business after that. New Legacy was strong in control, tripping three-quarters in 1:25.3. But when they hit the last turn, the gelding pulled away by two and, at the head of the stretch, he swelled up and trotted away under no urging whatsoever to win by 6-1/2 lengths in his new personal best and track record time of 1:54.
The previous record of 1:54.1 was set in 2020 by Blue Knight, who coincidentally was also driven by Monti.
The win was the third of the year for New Legacy ($5), but the first for his new owners Nickerson Racing, Joseph Hayes Jr., Steven Kouray and Donald De Luca, who privately purchased him on July 18. Bred by Al Libfeld of Pickering, Ont., the son of Father Patrick-Monarchs Sequel was a $130,000 yearling purchase at the Lexington Selected Sale in 2019.
The feature race was the $20,000 Winners Over Trot and horses owned by Richard Mason and trained by Ivan Davies finished first and second after the stablemates argued vehemently in the stretch.
Midnite Craze (Drew Campbell) took the field to the quarter before Blue Knight (Ivan Davies) brushed to the lead in front of the grandstand. The two trotted in order from the half to the three-quarters with only a mild bid from Deltasun A (Drew Monti) to deal with.
Heading around the last turn, Blue Knight and Midnite Craze were pulling away from the field by four lengths and had only themselves to contend with. Midnite Craze tipped off the pylons at seven-eighths and drew alongside Blue Knight at the top of the stretch. The two trotters tangled step for step all the way to the line where Midnite Craze just got up to win by a neck in 1:53.3, which was only two-fifths of a second slower than his lifetime best set five years ago.
The 11-year-old Midnite Craze returned $9.60.
The Wicked Hi-5 jackpot continues to grow. When live racing resumes at Plainridge Park on Monday (August 9) there will be a $34,077 carryover for that wager in the sixth race. Post time for the first race is 4 p.m.
(With files from Standardbred Owners of Massachusetts)