“Alex” had fun winning $25,000 pace

Plainville, MA — Alex Having Fun (Rock N Roll Heaven) appeared to be in mid-season harness racing form in only his third start of the year after he easily won the $25,000 Open Handicap pace for Massachusetts horses in a clocking only two-fifths off his lifetime mark.

Alex Having Fun (Drew Campbell) got away fourth as Naturally Gifted A (Nick Graffam) overtook Torrid Saint A (Matty Athearn) passing the :27.1 quarter. Naturally Gifted A then took the field down to the half in :55, where Alex Having Fun pulled first-over and proceeded to take the lead from Naturally Gifted A as they went past three-quarters. When Alex Having Fun crossed over in the last turn, he opened up a two length advantage by the top of the stretch and maintained that gap all the way to the wire where he won in 1:50 flat, setting a new seasonal mark.

ALEX HAVING FUN REPLAY

Alex Having Fun ($14.80) is owned and trained by Kimberly Vafiades.

Earlier in the secondary featured $25,000 Winners-Over Handicap trot, But Why (Kevin Switzer Jr.) got parked well past the quarter by Deadline Hall (Mitchell Cushing) before finally clearing in front of the stands. From there, But Why trotted to the half in :56.2 and three-quarters in 1:24.4 with Four Sixes (Bruce Ranger) pushing the issue on the outside and Deadline Hall drafting in the pocket. When they entered the stretch and trotted for home, Deadline Hall tried to capitalize on his perfect trip by coming off cover and charging the leader. However, But Why would have none of it as he out-muscled Deadline Hall all the way to the line where he won by one-half length in a new lifetime mark of 1:54.

But Why ($8.40) is owned by Steven and Laura Stewart and trained by Scott Mongeon.

Kevin Switzer Jr. led all drivers on Friday by winning three races on the card while trainers Jolene Andrews, Mike Cushing and Bob Kenney all registered two wins apiece.

There is no scheduled card of racing for Monday (May 26) next week in observance of Memorial Day. As such, live racing will resume at Plainridge Park on Tuesday (May 27) at 4 p.m. and there will be a $2,357 carryover in the Wicked Hi-5 pentafecta wager in the sixth race.

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