Overlooked at 6-1, Team Kiwi N took a lot of air and earned a hard fought victory in the $22,500 Winners-Over Handicap for distaff pacers at Plainridge Park on Sunday afternoon (Sept. 5).
Thats Incredible (Drew Monti) took the lead in the scratch-shortened field of five and went to the half in an easy :56.2. With no one looking to make a move, Pat Curtain tipped Team Kiwi N from last and started the trek up the outside. Thats Incredible looked strong up the backstretch and stepped off a :28 flat third quarter before taking a 1-1/2-length lead into the final turn. Team Kiwi N continued to gain ground around the final bend and by the top of the stretch had reached the leader’s wheel. As the race barreled to the line, Curtain urged Team Kiwi N ahead of Thats Incredible and then held off a late closing Firstup (Jim Hardy) to win by a half-length in 1:53.3.
The win was the second straight and fourth of the year for Team Kiwi N ($14.40) and her trainer Mark Eaton, who co-owns with Robert Griffin.
For the third time in the last four days, Nick Graffam scored a driving triple and remained the hottest reinsman at Plainridge Park. From his five drives today, he also added a second and a third for a UDR of .777. His stats over the last four days are very impressive as well with nine wins, three seconds and four thirds out of 26 starts for a UDR of .462 and $63,290 in purses. Graffam currently sits fourth overall for dash wins at the current Plainridge Park meet.
Racing resumes at The Ridge on Labor Day Monday (Sept. 6) with post time at 2 p.m.
(Standardbred Owners of Massachusetts)