A pair of two-year-old late closer stakes - one on the trot and one on the pace - were contested at Plainridge Park on Monday afternoon offering some fantastic finishes and state-bred stars in the making.
The $20,000 Wood End Light final for two-year-old trotters of both genders was won by the Massachusetts-bred The Fixer (Trixton-Give You My Word) who was a major upset.
The Fixer (Shane Taggart) and Prenuptial (Domenico Cecere) trotted side by side from the gate to the top of the turn, setting fractions of :28.2, :59 and 1:27.4 along the way. The two traded leads during the course of the trip but one never cleared the other. That was until the top of the stretch when Prenuptial tired and The Fixer trotted away to a two-length win in 1:58, blowing up the toteboard at 31-1.
It was the first lifetime win and a lifetime mark for The Fixer ($64.80) who was bred and is owned by Thomas Dillon. Gretchen Athearn trains the winner.
The Fixer is Massachusetts Sire Stake eligible and should be in action during the first leg of the two-year-old division which kicks off at Plainridge Park on Monday (Oct. 1).
Then later, the $20,000 Nauset Light final for two-year-old pacers of both genders was won by Fight Like Mike (Rock N Roll Heaven-Delco Voracious) who made a big late move.
Sylvia Trench (Jim Hardy) was the pacesetter who was under duress the entire mile. First Bangor (Jimmy Whittemore) pushed him to the half in :57 and at the three-quarters, Fight Like Mike (Mitchell Cushing) came flying three wide to draw alongside Sylvia Trench to argue from there until the wire. Sylvia Trench was at the pylons with Fight Like Mike alongside spinning out of the last turn. Hardy and Cushing were both rocking and knocking all the way down the lane until Fight Like Mike just got a head in front before the wire and won in 1:56.
It was also the first lifetime win and mark for Fight Like Mike ($6.20) who was bred and is owned by Jesse De Long and is trained by Jim Nickerson.
Tuesday afternoon’s (Sept. 18) card of racing at Plainridge Park has been postponed until Wednesday (Sept. 19) due to the remnants of Hurricane Florence that is expected to affect the greater Boston area with torrential rains and flash flooding tomorrow. Post time for the first race Wednesday will be at 2 p.m.
(Standardbred Owners of Massachusetts)