'Adashious' Goes Lifetime Best At Plainridge

As a relentless two-day rain continued to fall, the speed strip at Plainridge Park was still producing outstanding miles and Adashious Hanover was proof of that after she had the time of her life in the $15,000 distaff pacing feature on Tuesday afternoon. 

The track was rated “Wet Fast” and so was Adashious Hanover, who left from post four with Luke Hanners at the lines. After getting to the quarter in :26.3, post time favourite Probert (Brett Beckwith) made a power play for the front as they approached the stands and had that lead before hitting turn two. Tonnianne (Bruce Ranger) made a first-over move heading up the backside and drew alongside the pocket sitting Adashious  Hanover, but was unable to reach the leader.

Positions remained unchanged as they hit three-quarters in 1:23.2 but shortly after that station, Tonianne broke in the turn and Adashious Hanover was able to leave the pylons. As they headed into the stretch, Probert and Adashious Hanover matched strides all the way to the wire where Adashious Hanover got the advantage and won by one length in a new lifetime clocking of 1:51.1. 

It was the sixth win of a career year for Adashious Hanover ($13.80) and it pushed her earnings to $88,360 for owners Marc Reynolds and Rick Cortese. Jimmy Nickerson trains the winner. 

Nickerson, who is the leading trainer at Plainridge, had a big day winning a total of three races on the card. Other members of his stable that visited the winner's enclosure were Mexican Hanover (1:53.3, $2.80) that Reynolds and Cortese also own and Skylar Hanover (1:52.3, $2.80). 

Plainridge also had the $15,000 Nauset Light race for two-year-old pacers on Tuesday, some of which are getting ready for the Massachusetts Sire Stakes that start later this month. That race was won by Hey Junior (Ron Cushing) who followed the cover of Race Eye (Nick Graffam) past the half, caught the leading West Edge West (Brett Beckwith) and won by one-half length in a lifetime best 1:56. Hey Junior ($13.20) is owned by Kevin Sywyck and his driver Cushing. Heidi Gibbs trains the winner. 

Another Tuesday winner who is Mass-stake eligible was the three-year-old pacer, Believe Its Lindy (1:55.4, $2.10) who led every step of the way for driver Bruce Ranger and won by 1-1/4 lengths. Domenico Cecere trains for owner Lindy Farms of Connecticut.  

The off going also produced some major upsets during the card and longshot players went home happy at the end of the day. In the eighth race, Sweet Charlie (Matty Athearn) took an overland route to a lifetime best 1:53.1 victory and returned $177.60 for the win. And in the sixth race Virgin Boy (Drew Campbell) found room late and brushed to a new lifetime mark of 1:55 and returned $70.80 to his backers. That win also triggered a single unique winning ticket in the Wicked Hi-5 Pentafecta. The combination of 8-5-2-3-1 returned $3,797.38 for a 20-cent wager. 

Live racing resumes at Plainridge Park on Tuesday afternoon (Sept. 6) with post time at 2 p.m.

(Standardbred Owners of Massachusetts)