Driver Matty “Ice” Athearn was red hot at Plainridge Park on Thursday, Sept. 17 as he won five races on the card, including all three featured Opens.
In the $31,944 Fillies and Mares Open Handicap Pace, Athearn won with Swedish Starlet N, who put in a stellar performance by going gate to wire for her second consecutive win.
Mrs Cheese (Kevin Switzer Jr.) parked Swedish Starlet N to the quarter before the latter crossed over and tripped the timer in :26.2. Swedish Starlet N then made her way to the half in :55.2, where Sweet Hayley Jane A (Ron Cushing) moved first-over and into contention. Sweet Hayley Jane A drew alongside Swedish Starlet N and pulled ahead by a half length at the 1:22.1 three-quarters. But when they entered the last turn, Swedish Starlet N shifted up a gear and started to pull away from the attacker. She was a length clear at the top of the lane and extended her lead to two lengths under wraps at the line in 1:50.2. Mrs Cheese was second, followed by Elegant A (Bruce Ranger).
The win was the sixth of the year in 29 outings for Swedish Starlet N ($6.60), who is owned by Tim Bojarski and Tony Gruppo and trained by Jimmy Nickerson. The nine-year-old Mach Three-Top Of The Pile mare has 34 career wins from 146 starts.
Athearn won the following race, the $27,778 Open II Handicap Trot, with Memorynimagination, who also led at every station en route to victory.
Kazio Dk (Kevin Switzer Jr.) was first to the front off the gate, but Memorynimagintion went overland from post seven and made the front as he passed the quarter in :26.4. Once he settled on the point, Memorynimagination got to the half in :55.4 and three-quarters in 1:24, with Kazio Dk still tracking from the pocket and Pepper Wow (Mitchell Cushing) making his way into contention, third on the outside. Memoryinimagination extended his lead around the turn and was long gone in the stretch, winning by 2-1/4 lengths in 1:52.4. Kazio Dk finished second, followed by Pepper Wow (Mitchell Cushing).
Memorynimagination ($32.60) is now 11-for-26 this season for owner Joe Trice and trainer Jimmy Nickerson. The five-year-old Father Patrick-Fellowship Of Two gelding won for the 25th time in 93 career starts.
In the $31,944 Open Handicap Pace, Athearn won with Still Rollin N, who came from well off the pace to score a tight victory.
Still Rollin N got away sixth with Soho Spectre A (Brett Beckwith), who outleft Tenzing Bromac N (Ron Cushing), on top as they paced to the quarter in :26.3. After a :55.2 half, Wild Bill Wyatt (Mitchell Cushing) pulled first-over with So Rock N Roll (Kevin Switzer Jr.) on his back and Still Rollin N still gapped sixth but joining the outer flow. Soho Spectre A reached three-quarters in 1:22.3 with the field now bunched and the top six in two rows. So Rock N Roll tipped three-deep with Still Rollin N on his back, then at the top of the stretch, Still Rollin N went four-wide and forged to the front. Still Rollin N held a half-length lead to the line, where he won in 1:50.2. So Rock N Roll was second with Jackson Cooper (Nick Graffam) closing for show.
Still Rollin N ($4.40) is owned by VIP Internet Stable LLC and his trainer, Amanda Kelley. The six-year-old gelded son of Rock N Roll Heaven-Still Laughin is six-for-20 this year and 16-for-42 lifetime.
Athearn also won with Grits N Six (1:56.4, $7.80) and Just Roxy (1:54, $4.20) to complete his quintuple on the 11-race card. Four of his winning drives were divided between trainers Gretchen Athearn and Jimmy Nickerson, who led all other conditioners for the day with two wins apiece.
Racing will resume at Plainridge Park on Monday at 2 p.m.
(With files from Standardbred Owners of Massachusetts; photo of Still Rollin N winning on Sept. 17)