Lazarus gelding scorches a career best 1:49.1

Plainville, MA — Co-features valued at $25,000 each produced new lifetime harness racing marks for their victors at Plainridge Park on Thursday (July 10) afternoon and included another sub-1:50 outing for the second week in a row.

In the $25,000 Open pace for horses and geldings, Life’s A Puzzle (Lazarus N) went right to the front and dominated that group for the rest of the race. After cruising handily on the point through quarters of :27, :54.4 and 1:22 with the field loosely chasing behind, Life’s A Puzzle (Nick Graffam) turned for home unabated, and bolted for the wire under a line-drive by Graffam to win by two lengths in a career best 1:49.1.

LIFE’S A PUZZLE REPLAY

It was the third win of the year for Life’s A Puzzle ($4.60) who is owned by Richard Humphrey and trained by Gerald Mac Kenzie Jr.

Then in the $25,000 Open Handicap pace for fillies and mares, Always Bstunning N (Kevin Switzer Jr.) took the lead from Side Piece (Drew Monti) passing the :26.4 quarter and then reached the half in :54.4.

As they came off turn two, Intothemysticmoon (Nick Graffam) pulled first-over and tried to pressure  Always Bstunning N (Always B Miki) at three-quarters, but that bid failed in the last turn. At the top of the stretch, Side Piece pulled for the drive and got close, but Always Bstunning N hung on to win by a half-length in a new lifetime mark of 1:50.4.

ALWAYS BSTUNNING N REPLAY

It was the fifth win in nine starts for Always Bstunning N ($2.40) who is owned by Richard Poillucci and trained by Gretchen Athearn.

There was also a $25,000 Trackmaster Starter Allowance on the card that saw Virtual Horizon (Drew Monti) get away fifth as Hespoisedtopounce A (Matty Athearn) paced on the lead to the half in :55.1.

It was there that Virtual Horizon (VerticalHorizon) was already out and rolling first-over and hooked up with Hespoisedtopounce A at five-eighths. The pair paced stride for stride to three-quarters and around the last turn where Virtual Horizon took the lead and then held off the late-closing Warrawee Yale (Kevin Switzer Jr.) to win by a head in 1:51.2.

Virtual Horizon ($10.20) is owned by Kellogg Racing and trained by Jackie Greene.

VIRTUAL HORIZON REPLAY

Drew Monti had the hot hands at the lines on Thursday, winning four races during the day. Three of his winners were trained by Jackie Green who scored the conditioning hat trick.

Live racing will resume at Plainridge Park on Monday (July 14) at 4 p.m. and there will be a $11,443 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