Lifetime mark taken in Plainridge feature

Plainville, MA — Top-level pacer Alex Having Fun (Rock n Roll Heaven) is off to a fast and lucrative start to his 2024 harness racing season, and he added another exclamation point to that resume on Monday (May 20) when he captured the $20,000 pacing feature at Plainridge Park for the second week in a row while lowering his lifetime mark for the second time in seven days.

Bruce Ranger took Alex Having Fun off the gate and settled in fifth while Skyway Victor (Kevin Switzer Jr.) skated through quick quarters of :26.2 and :55.2. At that point, Alex Having Fun was already out and rolling, first-up in the breeze and he got to within a length of Skyway Victor at three-quarters despite the wicked :26.4 panel posted by the leader.

After they spun through the final bend and turned for home, Alex Having Fun forged ahead of Skyway Victor and then held off a pair of late charges from The Wild Card (Nick Graffam) and Always A Miki (Matty Athearn) to win by a length in 1:50. The time lowered the winner’s career best by three-fifths of a second.

It was the third win in the last four starts for Alex Having Fun ($18.20) who is owned and trained by Kimberly Vafiades.

ALEX HAVING FUN REPLAY

Later in the $17,000 conditioned undercard pace, Heiniken Bythebay (Southwind Lynx, Kevin Switzer Jr.) was forced three-wide through the first turn and to the :26.3 quarter by Torrid Saint A (Matty Athearn) and Little Willy (Brett Bekcwith) before he could take the lead in front of the stands. Once he got there, Heiniken Bythebay just kept rolling and stopped the clock in :55.2 and 1:22.3 while passing the next two stations.

The leader pulled away by three lengths as he worked his way through the last turn and entered the stretch looking like a winner. But Little Willy, who had drafted second the whole mile, made one last lunge and closed furiously in deep stretch. However, despite his best effort, he came up one-half length short to Heiniken Bythebay who won in 1:50.2 snd set a new lifetime mark.

Heiniken Bythebay ($3.00) is owned by KDK Standardbreds and trained by Kevin Switzer.

HEINKEN BYTHEBAY REPLAY

Nick Graffam led all drivers on Monday with three wins while trainer Jimmy Nickerson bested his fellow conditioners with a double on the card.

Racing resumes at Plainridge Park on Tuesday (May 21) with post time at 4 p.m. and the card will feature a $4,356 carryover in the Wicked Hi-5 in race six.

For complete race results, click here: US Trotting results.

by Tim Bojarski, for the Standardbred Owners of Massachusetts