Last week, Unlikeanyother scored a career best 1:51.4 win in a runaway effort at Plainridge Park. On Friday (Sept. 11) he one-upped himself while taking the featured $12,000 pacing event for five-year-olds and under.
Bruce Ranger directed Unlikeanyother to the front as usual and the four-year-old gelded son of Pet Rock-Scootin Mercedes opened up a quick two-length margin in :26.3. With no opposition at all, Ranger backed down to a :29.1 second panel and then proceeded to three-quarters in 1:24. Unlikeanyother immediately opened a three-length gap and paced around the last turn all by himself. With the whip tucked, Ranger line-drove Unlikeanyother to the light in a swift but easy 1:51.3 and took a second-consecutive lifetime mark.
Now two-for-two, Unlikeanyother ($4.20) is undefeated since coming to the Commonwealth, much to the delight of his owner Jim Winske. Melissa Beckwith trains the winner.
Ranger and Beckwith also teamed up to win with Rural Art (1:53.3, $16.00), giving them each a double for the day.
Matty “Ice” Athearn also scored two driving wins Friday.
Racing resumes at Plainridge Park this week on Sunday (Sept. 13) with post time at 2 p.m. (EDT). Plainridge will now race four days a week on a Sunday, Monday, Thursday, Friday schedule for the next seven weeks right through Friday (Oct. 31). Post time for all racing days is 2 p.m. (EDT).
Sunday (Sept. 27), Sunday (Oct. 4) and Sunday (Oct. 18) will feature preliminary legs of the Massachusetts Sire Stakes with the finals to be held on Monday (Oct. 26).
(Plainridge Park)