3YO track record shattered by Jackson Cooper

Plainville, MA — The harness racing track record for 3-year-old pacing geldings at Plainridge Park was solidly beaten on Monday (Aug. 18) afternoon when Jackson Cooper (Captaintreacherous) went gate to wire in 1:49.3.

Brett Beckwith pushed Jackson Cooper to the front and led by two lengths through quarters of :26.1, :54.3 and 1:21.3 before turning for home, holding off the tripped-out and closing Justcallmebuck (Kevin Switzer Jr.) and stopping the clock in 1:49.3.

JACKSON COOPER REPLAY

 

Jackson Cooper ($5.20) is owned by Jesmeral Stable and trained by Christie Collins.

The old record for 3-year-old pacing geldings was 1:50.4 and was co-held by Benny Is A Jet (2020) and Renaissance Deo (2024).

Stalbaum students finish one-two in Plainridge Open

Larry Stalbaum had himself a day at The Ridge on Monday after two horses he owns, trains and drives – Blazing Home N (Rock N Roll Heaven) and Rocknroll Runa A – finished first and second in the featured $25,000 Open Handicap pace.

Stalbaum got away fourth with Blazing Home N and Rocknroll Runa A (Nick Graffam) settled in fifth as Taipo N (Bruce Ranger) blasted through early quarters of :25.4 and :54.2. It was at the half that Blazing Home N came first over and provided cover for Rocknroll Runa A, who was then one out and one back in the breeze, fourth.

When the race reached three-quarters in 1:21.4, Blazing Home N took the lead from Taipo N and Rocknroll Runa A moved into third, while still on his stablemate’s back. As the horses straightened out for home, Rocknroll Runa A pulled alongside Blazing Home N and tried to catch him in the lane. The two horses sprinted to the line, but Blazing Home N maintained the lead and got the win in 1:50 flat.

BLAZING HOME N REPLAY

 

It was the fifth victory of the year for Blazing Home N ($3.40) who went over the $100,000 mark in earnings for 2025, now boasting $100,625.

Earlier in the $22,500 upper-level conditioned pace, Price Control took full advantage of a class drop out of the Open to win in a career-best effort.

Grey Horizon (Drew Monti) and Price Control (Mitchell Cushing) traded leads through the :26 quarter before Price Control landed on the front to call the shots. He took the field to the half in :54 and three-quarters in 1:21.3 with only a mild bid by Starship (Matty Athearn) as they headed into turn three. Price Control continued to lead around that bend and into the lane while turning back late rushes by Sweet Jeff IR (Nick Graffam) and Stonebridge Reef (Brett Beckwith) to win by a length in 1:49.3, setting his new lifetime mark.

Price Control ($6.80) is owned by Ray Lasky, Matthew Little and his driver, Mitchell Cushing, who also trains the 4-year-old.

Brett Beckwith was the leading driver on Monday after he won three races on the card while 11 different trainers each won one race apiece during the afternoon.

Live racing will resume at Plainridge Park on Tuesday (Aug. 19) at 4 p.m. with a $6,411 carryover in the Wicked Hi-5 pentafecta in race six.

Free full past performance programs and race replays for all live racing days at Plainridge Park can be found at plainridgeparkcasino.com.

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

by Tim Bojarski, for Plainridge Park