Delayed Hanover likes the Opens at Plainridge

Plainville, MA — Delayed Hanover (Southwind Frank) got his second win in his last three starts at Plainridge Park after taking the $25,000 Open Handicap harness racing in easy fashion on Thursday (Aug. 29).

Bruce Ranger got away third with Delayed Hanover as Remember Titans (Kevin Switzer Jr.) led the field through a :26.3 first quarter. But Ranger wanted the front and quickly moved Delayed Hanover to the lead before the half.

As the race proceeded up the backstretch, Sidd Finch (Drew Campbell) came first-over to challenge the leader and got to within a length at three-quarters, and then hung close around the last turn. When they entered the stretch, Delayed Hanover swelled up and bolted home in :28 flat to a three length victory in 1:53.1.

It was the third win of the year, and all at Plainridge Park for Delayed Hanover ($2.60) who is owned by Reid Wissner and trained by Kevin Mc Dermott.

DELAYED HANOVER REPLAY

In the $20,000 upper-level conditioned trot, Golden Kronos (Chapter Seven) and driver Kevin Switzer Jr. sat second behind Buddy Earl (Bruce Ranger) through quarters of :27.2, :56.1 and 1:24.2 before shaking loose in the lane to beat Buddy Earl at the line by three-quarters of a length in 1:54 to take a new seasonal mark.

Golden Kronos ($6.60) is owned by Michael Pozefsky and William Pozefsky and is trained by Stanley Zombick Jr.

GOLDEN KRONOS REPLAY

There was also a $20,000 Mass Grads trot for older Massachusetts-bred horses who competed in the Massachusetts Sire Stakes, and the race turned into a literal sibling rivalry. Raybarnz (Crazed) and driver Ivan Davies chased down his maternal sister Poppy Wow (Jim Hardy) in the stretch and won by 1-¼ lengths in 1:54.4, matching his best seasonal time.

Raybarnz ($4.40) is owned by Shirley Michaud and is trained by his driver, Davies.

RAYBARNZ REPLAY

Davies had a double, both driving and training. Driver Bruce Ranger and trainer Domenico Cecere also teamed up for two winners, with Ranger adding Delayed Hanover later in the card for his hat trick. Kevin Switzer Jr. also had a driving hat trick on Thursday.

Racing resumes at Plainridge Park on Monday (Sept. 2) with a new, earlier post time of 2 p.m. The 2 p.m. post will be the norm for all race days moving forward through Thursday, October 31.

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

by Tim Bojarski, for the Standardbred Owners of Massachusetts