Ever Hoping A bounces right back at Plainridge

Plainville, MA — After pacing in 1:49.2 last week while beaten only 2-½ lengths by Natameri in the fastest mile of the year so far at Plainridge Park, Ever Hoping A (Always B Miki) bounced right back and turned class and post relief into an open length harness racing victory in the $17,000 featured pace on Monday afternoon (June 10).

Ever Hoping A (Ron Cushing) got away second as Tack Room Chatter (Brett Beckwith) led by two lengths in a fast :26.2 opening quarter. But Cushing, not content with the trip, had Ever Hoping A out and rolling past that station, took the lead in front of the stands and remained there for the duration of the race.

After stopping the timer in :54.4 at the half and 1:23.1 at three-quarters with very little pressure from the field, Ever Hoping A rounded the last bend and scooted home on top by 3-½ lengths in 1:52.

It was the fourth win of the year for the heavily backed Ever Hoping A ($3.40) who is owned by his driver Cushing, in partnership with Stephen Downey, Ronald Ralph and Romanelli Racing. Heidi Cushing trains the winner.

EVER HOPING A REPLAY

There were also two secondary features that actually produced the miles of the day. In the $15,000 District 9 event, Odds On Lauderdale (Western Ideal) and driver Brett Beckwith sat second behind Sundown Kid (Shawn Thayer) through quarters of :26.2, :54.4 and 1:22.3. After coming off the far turn, Beckwith moved around Sundown Kid and paced away to a three-quarter length win in 1:51.2.

It was the sixth win of the year for Odds On Lauderdale ($4.00) and owner/trainer Mike Eaton.

ODDS ON LAUDERDALE REPLAY

Then in the $14,000 mid-level conditioned pace, Paternity Suit A (Rock N Roll Heaven) and driver Matty Athearn sat fourth behind the front running Rooster Bennett (Brett Beckwith) until the five-eighths when Athearn pulled him first-over in the breeze, where he remained until the top of the stretch. There, Paternity Suit A switched gears and paced home in front by three-quarters of a length in 1:51.4.

It was the 43rd lifetime win for Paternity Suit A ($5.60) who is owned by Tim Bojarski and Tony Gruppo and trained by Jimmy Nickerson.

PATERNITY SUIT A REPLAY

There was a milestone reached in the third race by the venerable pacer Calvin B (Matty Athearn) after he won by a head in 1:54 for owner/trainer Gretchen Athearn. It was the 60th lifetime win for the now 14-year-old son of Bettors Delight-Croquette Hanover, who in 327 career starts has now bankrolled $533,508.

Matty Athearn scored the driving hat trick on Monday while Brett Beckwith and Drew Campbell each registered two wins, and 11 different trainers each won one race apiece.

Racing resumes at Plainridge Park on Tuesday (June 11) with post time at 4 p.m. and the card will feature a $1,103 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