Big Al M gets up late for Plainridge Open score

Plainville, MA — Benefitting from a perfect trip, Big Al M (Anders Bluestone) brushed late to victory in the $20,000 Open Handicap Trot harness racing feature at Plainridge Park on Thursday (July 11) afternoon.

Remember Titans (Brett Beckwith) grabbed the early lead before Delayed Hanover (Jay Randall) took over the top at the :27.3 quarter. During that action, Big Al M (Matty Athearn) sat patiently third. With no prompters coming from behind, Delayed Hanover then set an even tempo, going :56.1 to the half and 1:24.3 to three-quarters.

During that third quarter, Marquis Lafayette (Bruce Ranger) made a three-wide bid up the backstretch but broke at the top of the last turn. So Delayed Hanover took his lead into the stretch while Remember Titans tipped out and Big Al M went three-wide around him. The three eventually drew even just four pylons before the wire, but Big Al M blasted by both late to win by three-quarters of a length in a seasonal best 1:54.

It was the second win in a row for Big Al M ($10.60) who is owned and trained by Zachary Vickerson.

BIG AL M REPLAY

Athearn also won the $17,500 conditioned trot with Cruising Tom (Muscle Mass), who also sat third behind the front running Bravado (Kevin Switzer Jr.) until three-quarters when he pulled and drew even with Bravado at the top of the stretch. From there, Cruising Tom put away Bravado and then held off a late rush from Enola (Nick Graffam) to win by a head in 1:54.1, which was a new lifetime mark.

It was the second win in a row as well for Cruising Tom ($14.80) who is owned by Rick Cortese and Marc Reynolds and trained by Jimmy Nickerson.

CRUISING TOM REPLAY

Athearn ended the day with a hat trick at the lines, completing the trio with Replica Hanover (1:56.2, $2.80).

There were also some notable doubles scored on the card. Driver Bruce Ranger and trainer Domenico Cecere teamed up for two wins with Massachusetts Sire Stake eligible Intl Blockade (1:55.4, $3.20), who got his third win in a row and Sforza (1:55, $3.80), who got his fourth win in a row. And Ivan Davies was a one man band, both training and driving Massachusetts Sire Stake eligible Pepper Wow (1:55.4, $5.60) to a new lifetime mark and Midnight Craze (1:57.2, $4.60) to his 45th career victory.

In just 10 days, Plainridge Park will have the spotlight of the Grand Circuit directed towards it as the track will host the $250,000 Spirit of Massachusetts Trot and accompanying $100,000 Clara Barton Distaff Pace on Sunday, July 21 at 2 p.m. Some of the best horses in North America will be in the Bay State to compete on the biggest day of racing of the summer at The Ridge.

Live racing will resume at Plainridge Park on Monday (July 15) with post time at 4 p.m. and the card will feature a $2,300 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