Duke Of Cornwall N speeds to new mark

Plainville, MA — Three $20,000 conditioned paces headlined the harness racing card at Plainridge Park on Thursday afternoon (June 8) with Duke Of Cornwall N (Sweet Lou) throwing the fastest mile of the day despite starting from post eight.

Odds On Blockchain (Luke Hanners) took control of the race after a four horse breakout off the gate. After a :26.2 quarter and :55 flat half, DP Realordeal (Bruce Ranger) pulled first over and Duke Of Cornwall N (Mitch Cushing) was right on his back. As they paced past three-quarters, DP Realordeal and Duke Of Cornwall N were one-two and breaking away from the field. As the pair headed down the lane, Duke Of Cornwall N collared DP Realordeal and then pulled away to a 1-½ length win in a new lifetime best of 1:50.

DUKE OF CORNWALL REPLAY

It was the third win in four starts this year for Duke Of Cornwall N ($5.40) who is owned by Richard Pollucci and trained by Tahnee Camilleri.

Earlier in the card, High Baller (Captaintreacherous, Greg Merton) sat second behind Always A Miki (Matty Athearn) through quarters of :26.3, :54.3 and 1:22.3 as Crunch Hanover (Brett Beckwith) pushed the issue on the outside in the third quarter.

As they headed towards the wire, High Baller shook loose to get the lead and then held off a late closing The Wild Card (Bruce Ranger) to win by a length in 1:50.4, which was a new seasonal mark.

HIGH BALLER REPLAY

High Baller ($23.60) is owned by Morrison Racing Stable and Brian Gordon and is trained by Andrew Adamczyk.

Then in the third group, Patrikthepiranha A (Four Starzzz Shark, Brett Beckwith) took a lot of air to the quarter before getting the lead from Skyway Victor (Bruce Ranger) in front of the stands. At that point, Beckwith grabbed leather and backed down the half to :56.3 and the race was basically over.

Indictable Hanover (Greg Merton) made a push in the third quarter and matched strides with the leader into the last turn. But Patrikthepiranha A was just too good as he turned him away before holding off Skyway Victor at the line where he won by one length in 1:51.4.

PATRIKTHEPIRANHA A REPLAY

Patrikthepiranha A ($2.60) got his third win of the year for Thestable Patrikthepiranha and trainer Melissa Beckwith.

Brett Beckwith, Mitch Cushing and Luke Hanners all had driving doubles Thursday while 11 different trainers all claimed one win apiece.

Live racing will resume at Plainridge Park on Monday (June 12) at 4 p.m. and there will be a $9,501 carryover in the Jackpot Wicked Hi-5 pentafecta in race six and a $225 carryover in the Pick-6 in race four.

For complete race results, click here

by Tim Bojarski, for the Standardbred Owners of Massachusetts