Taking full advantage of a stiff early pace, Im No Outlaw N rallied late to score a career-best effort in the $22,500 featured pace at Plainridge Park on Monday (Aug. 7).
There were several lead changes off the gate that saw Salt Life (Nick Graffam), Little Willy (Brett Beckwith) and Bag Pipe Major (Bruce Ranger) all control the front through the course of the :26.2 first quarter. Bag Pipe Major was the last to see the point and continued the snappy pace to the half in :53.4 as the field was in single file for the first time of the race.
Positions remained unchanged until the five-eighths when Salt Life pulled from third and Im No Outlaw N (Jay Randall) tipped into contention from fifth. As the field moved around the far turn, Im No Outlaw N went three-deep and drew even with Bag Pipe Major heading into the lane. Im No Outlaw N eventually ran down Bag Pipe Major in deep stretch while holding off the fast-closing Paternity Suit A (Matty Athearn) by one-half length to win in 1:50.3, which was a new lifetime mark.
It was the fourth win of the year for Im No Outlaw N ($6.40), who is owned by Kellogg Racing Stable and Jackie Greene Stables and is trained by Jackie Greene.
Randall ended the day with a driving grand slam on Monday as he also won with Good Will Lindy (1:56.2, $4.40), Petipou (1:53.3, $3.40) and Uncle Joe T (1:55.2, $11.40).
There were also three “District 9” races on the card for New England-owned horses.
The $20,000 division was won by Calvin B (Matty Athearn), who was parked-out the middle half of the mile before clearing the front and pacing away to a three-quarter length victory over Woodys Cash Crop (Nick Graffam) in 1:53.4. Calvin B ($37.20) is owned and trained by Gretchen Athearn.
Then in the $17,000 split, Boogy Woogy J (Jim Hardy) took the lead before the half and turned back challenges from Kick The Dirt Up (Bruce Ranger) and Finnbar (Jay Randall) to win by 1-1/4 lengths in 1:53.2. Boogy Woogy J ($4.40) is owned by David Thibault, Jim Hardy, Edward McDavitt and Jolene Andrews, who also trains the winner.
Finally in the $15,000 group, South Of Heaven (Brett Beckwith) was a runaway winner, leading by as many as five lengths during the race before turning for home under Beckwith wraps to claim a 4-1/2 length win in 1:52.2. South Of Heaven ($4.40) is owned by Debron Stables and is trained by Kimberly Vafiades.
There was a big payout in the ninth race Wicked Hi-5 Jackpot pentafecta. The combination of 4-3-1-7-6 returned $15,747.96 for a 20-cent wager.
Live racing will resume at Plainridge Park on Tuesday (Aug. 8) at 4 p.m.
(Standardbred Owners of Massachusetts)