P L Notsonice cracks Plainridge trot mark

Plainville, MA –— In her first ever visit to Massachusetts, P L Notsonice (Kadabra) set a new track record of 1:53.3 for 4-year-old harness racing trotting mares at Plainridge Park after she won the $22,500 Winners-Over feature on Friday afternoon (Sept. 24).

P L Notsonice (Renaldo Morales III) got away fifth while a torrid first quarter of :26.3 was set by Big Rich (Kevin Switzer Jr.). When the half got backed down to :56.3, Northern Skyway (Shawn Gray) came rolling up the outside with P L Notsonice on his back.

Northern Skyway continued to gain ground on the leader and as the race proceeded through the last turn, he took the lead from Big Rich and P L Notsonice came up alongside him waiting for the lane. When they straightened out, P L Notsonice was under a full head of steam and barreled down the stretch to the wire on top by 1-3/4 lengths in 1:53.3.

The time was a new track, replacing the 1:54.2 clocking by Annie OK in 2017.

P L Notsonice ($2.60) bumped her 2021 earnings to $62,862 on the strength of her fourth win for owner Gratitude First and trainer Dale Gilmour.

P L NOTSONICE REPLAY

In the $17,500 upper level conditioned trot Northern Sultan (Mike Stevenson), who was overlooked at 40-1, made a first-over bid just past the three-eighths and trotted side by side with the front running Lexus Markus (Kevin Switzer Jr.) from the five-eighths all the way to the wire where he won by a head in a lifetime best 1:55.

Northern Sultan ($88.00) scored his fourth win of the year for owner/trainer Bill Krikorian. He is sired by Royalty For Life.

NORTHERN SULTAN REPLAY

When racing resumes at Plainridge Park on Sunday (Sept. 26) the $2.24 million (est.) Massachusetts Sire Stakes will kick off its 2021 series featuring 3-year-olds of both gaits and sexes who will compete for $480,000 in purses. Post time for the first race is 2 p.m.

For full race results, click here.

By Tim Bojarski, for the Standardbred Owners of Massachusetts