Plainville, MA — Sometimes the secondary feature at a track can become the feature story and Level Up (Art Major) made that happen at Plainridge Park Monday afternoon (Nov. 7) as he took it up a level and blew up the tote board at odds of 47-1 in the 10th race $20,000 pace.
Driver Nick Graffam got away last from post seven while Treacherous Tom (Bruce Ranger) was commander of fractions. Graffam tipped Level Up before the half behind Wyatt J (Jay Randall) and followed that cover up the backside before moving into second at three-quarters.
Now only one-half length off the leader, Level Up out-strode Treacherous Tom down the lane and won by one-half length in 1:53.3.
Sent off the favorite two out of his last three starts, Level Up was let go long this day and returned $97.00 for the win. Level Up is owned by the Seafood Delight Stable and is trained by Nick Vamvilis.
LEVEL UP REPLAY
After just winning the featured pace at Plainridge Park last week, Mansome (Somebeachsomewhere) bounced right back into the winner’s circle after taking another $25,000 featured pace at The Ridge on Monday.
Kevin Switzer Jr. put Mansome on the point and led the race from start to finish. With his right foes strung out behind him, Mansome cut quarters of :26.2, :55 and 1:23 with only a mild bid from stablemate Bag Pipe Major (Pat Curtain) at three-quarters. Turning for home, Keystone Dakota, who had been sitting the pocket the entire trip, had no answers in the lane as Mansome reels off a 1-¾ length win in 1:52.2.
Mansome ($9.40) got his seventh win of the year for owners Bruce Weinstein and Elisha Lafreniere, who also trains the winner.
MANSOME REPLAY
Switzer and Lafreniere teamed up to win a total of three races on Monday, adding Tobin’s Edge (1:54.3, $5.20) and Franco Tristan N (1:53.2, $4.60) during the card.
Driver Jay Randall had a natural hat trick in races five, six and seven with Roll With Dom (1:52.2, $3.20), Bluebird Goldwyn (1:53.4, $4.40) and Always A Miki (1:54, $6.40).
Racing resumes at Plainridge Park on Tuesday (Nov. 8) with post time at 1 p.m. Free full past performance race programs for all live race days can be downloaded by visiting the track’s website here and clicking the “Racing” tab.
For complete race results, click here.
by Tim Bojarski, for the Standardbred Owners of Massachusetts