Lifetime mark taken in Plainridge top trot

Plainville, MA — It wasn’t easy, but Raybarnz (Crazed) showed grit and determination while claiming victory in the $20,000 Winners-Over Handicap harness racing trot at Plainridge Park on Thursday afternoon (June 23).

Raybarnz (Ivan Davies) got away fourth as Trix And Stones (Drew Monti) led the field to the half in a moderate :57.2. But Davies had him out and rolling into the second turn and drew alongside the leader going up the back stretch.

By the time the race hit the three-quarters, Trix And Stones and Raybarnz were trotting in synchronicity and the match race was on from there. With less than a nose separating them around the final bend, neither trotter would give way.

Trix And Stones held position and Raybarnz continued to dig. At the top of the stretch the battle still raged and it wasn’t until three pylons from the wire that Raybarnz had won the war, and the race by ¾ of a length in a new lifetime best time of 1:54.1.

RAYBARNZ REPLAY

It was the first win in five starts this year for Raybarnz ($5.40) who is owned by Earl and Kathy Beaman and Shirley Michaud. Ivan Davies also trains the winner.

There were also two $15,000 conditioned trots contested Thursday.

In the first, Pembroke Regal (Pembroke Slugger, Heath Campbell) charged hard off the gate, took the lead before the :28.1 and once in place was never headed. After leading the entire mile by a full length or more, Pembroke Regal opened up a two length gap at the head of the stretch and trotted home wrapped up in a lifetime best 1:52.2.

PEMBOKE REGAL REPLAY

Pembroke Regal ($4.00) is owned by William Varney and is trained by Valerie Grondin.

Then later Inquiring Mind (Chapter Seven, Larry Stalbaum) took and early lead and outlasted all comers to the wire. After setting fractions of :27.3, :57.2 and 1:25.2 with Midnite Craze (Drew Campbell) and Nicolo Hanover (Heath Campbell) in hot pursuit, Inquiring Mind turned for home and refused to lose, hitting the line in front by ½ length in a career best 1:55.3.

INQUIRING MIND REPLAY

Inquiring Mind ($17.00) is owned by Shark Racing and is trained by his driver Stalbaum.

Bruce Ranger led all drivers with two wins on the card.

There is a large and growing carryover of $32,985 available in the sixth race Wicked Hi-5 wager when live racing resumes at Plainridge Park on Monday afternoon (June 27) with post time at 4 p.m. Free full past performance race programs for all live race days can be downloaded by visiting the track’s website by clicking here and then clicking the “Racing” tab.

For complete race results, click here.

by Tim Bojarski, for the Standardbred Owners of Massachusetts