Whiskey Lindy decided his own fortune as he led the field for almost 7/8th’s of the mile in very even fractions en route to winning the $12,000 trotting feature at Plainridge Park on Friday afternoon.
Driver Drew Monti took an immediate lead from the pylons with Whiskey Lindy before Hs Marcia (Drew Campbell) came from the outside and settled on the front. That take-over was short lived as Whiskey Lindy popped out before the quarter and reclaimed the dominant position.
The race continued to the half in :57.2 and the three-quarters in 1:26.2 with no movement, but a lurking HS Marcia waiting to make her move. That came at the top of the stretch where Campbell pulled and began driving vigorously. Monti matched his enthusiasm and they both urged their trotters all the way to the wire where Whisky Lindy held on to the win by a head in 1:56.
Whiskey Lindy ($3.00) remains perfect on the year, winning his third straight race in 2019. The five-year-old gelded son of Cantab Hall-Rum Boogie is owned by Greathorse of Massachusetts and is trained by Domenico Cecere.
The top trot of the afternoon went to Shorething Fashion (Nick Graffam) who left from post seven to take the lead and once there, never looked back as he won the $10,500 conditioned event in 1:55.4.
Shorething Fashion ($5.00) is owned by Mike Eaton and Bob McHugh with Eaton doing the training.
The Massachusetts Sire Stakes (MASS) are drawing near and evidence of that is two- and three-year-old horses making their early starts in preparation of that series. On Friday, three-year-old pacing gelding Good Heavens (Drew Campbell) went wire-to-wire in 1:54.4 in the $10,000 non-winners event.
Good Heavens ($2.20) now has four wins this year for owner Nancy Longobardi and trainer Ivan Davies.
The MASS kicks off its 2019 season on Sunday (Sept. 29) at Plainridge Park. The four-week series is worth an estimated $1.8 million and culminates with eight finals worth $100,000 each on Monday (Oct. 28) at The Ridge.
When live racing resumes at Plainridge Park on Monday afternoon (Sept. 16) at 2 p.m., there will be a $31,282 carryover in the Wicked Hi-5 wager in race six.
The MASS kicks of its 2019 season on Sunday (Sept. 29) at Plainridge Park. The four-week series is worth an estimated $1.8 million and culminates with eight finals worth $100,000 each on Monday (Oct. 28) at The Ridge.
When live racing resumes at Plainridge Park on Monday afternoon (Sept. 16) at 2 p.m., there will be a $31,282 carryover in the Wicked Hi-5 wager in race six.
(Standardbred Owners of Massachusetts)