Trotter takes it to another level on Halloween

Plainville, MA — After consistently performing at a high level all year, Probert (Dali) took it to another level on Halloween Monday (Oct. 31) when she scared up the best performance of her life in the $25,000 fillies and mares Open Handicap harness racing pace at Plainridge Park.

Newsy N (Ron Cushing) set the pace to the half in :55.1 when Therewasthisgirl (Nick Graffam) pulled from third and paced into the breeze with Probert (Bruce Ranger) drafting behind her, fourth. The top two tangled to three-quarters in a swift 1:22.4 while Probert was just waiting to pounce.

As the field of five spiraled out of the far turn, Ranger tipped Probert off cover three-wide around Therewasthisgirl and Newsy N and unleashed her down the stretch. Probert paced away from every one of her own accord by 2-¼ lengths and won in a personal best time of 1:51.

It was the third straight win and fourth in her last five starts for Probert ($2.20) – all in Open company – for owners Howard Jacobs, Jim Winske and Marcus Kemblowski. Melissa Beckwith trains the winner.

PROBERT REPLAY

In the $17,500 co-featured race for female pacers, a full field of 3 and 4-year-old filles and mares went to post with Skylar Hanover (Betting Line, Drew Monti) coming out on top to extend her winning streak as well.

Roaring Kitty (Jim Hardy) flew to the front while Skyler Hanover sat chilly in the garden spot through quarters of :26.4, :56.2 and 1:24.3. At the top of the lane Monti shook Skyler Hanover loose and she did the rest, scooting home by a neck over the fast-closing Sweet Charlie (Matty Athearn) in 1:53.2.

It was the third win in a row, sixth out of her last eight and 10th overall this year for Skylar Hanover ($2.60) for owners Eric Walstrom and David De Martino and trainer Jimmy Nickerson.

SKYLAR HANOVER REPLAY

Monti ended the day with two wins as did Nickerson, whose Sweet Sally Sue (Panther Hanover, 1:53, $2.20) was driven to her seventh straight victory by Bruce Ranger for owner Melvin Fink.

Ranger had two wins as well along with fellow driver Drew Campbell.

Racing resumes at Plainridge Park on Tuesday (Nov. 1) at a new, earlier 1 p.m. post time. All remaining 2022 live race dates will be at the same 1 p.m. post. Free full past performance race programs for all live race days can be downloaded by visiting the track’s website and clicking the “Racing” tab.

For complete race results, click here.

by Tim Bojarski, for the Standardbred Owners of Massachusetts