Drew Monti wins five at Plainridge

Plainville, MA — Mansome made a bold uncovered move in the last half of the mile to overpower a field of top harness racing pacers and win the $20,000 Winners-Over feature at Plainridge Park on Monday afternoon (July 19).

Rock Diamonds N (Ron Cushing) led to the quarter where Lake Charles (Shawn Gray) pulled and brushed to the front. Positions remained unchanged until the five-eighths where Mansome (Kevin Switzer Jr.) pulled first-over on the attack.

The two horses paced in tandem around the far turn and to the top of the lane where Mansome manned-up. He put away Lake Charles and then held off a late closing kick from Rock Diamonds N to win by 1-½ lengths in 1:51.2.

It was the fourth win of the year for Mansome ($12.00) who has now made $48,720 in 2021 for owners Bruce Weinstein and Elisha Lafreniere, who also trains the gelding.

MANSOME REPLAY

In the secondary $17,500 Winners-Over pace, Rollinlikethunder (Drew Monti)  sat second behind Hudson Phil (Matty Athearn) through quarters of :27.4, :56.4 and 1:24.1 with no threats from behind. At the top of the stretch Monti pulled, popped the plugs and let out line and Rollinlikethunder responded with attitude by pacing away down the lane to a 1-½ length win in 1:52, which tied his seasonal best.

It was the third win of the year for Rollinlikethunder ($6.00) who is owned by Richard Cortese and Donald Hawk. Jimmy Nickerson trains the winner.

Finally in the $15,000 upper level condition race, Force N Fury (Drew Monti) made a first-over move at the half and drew even with the leading Cigars And Port (Drew Campbell) as the pair moved by the three-quarters.

After matching strides in the turn, Force N Fury pulled ahead but had one challenge left. That came from Stihl N (Matty Athearn) who got even with Force N Fury at the top of the stretch and looked like he was going on by. But Force N Fury swelled up, regained the lead and won by 1-½ lengths in 1:51, which matched his season’s best time.

Force N Fury ($8.60) is owned by his trainer Mark Eaton, Bob McHugh and Robert Griffin.

Driver Drew Monti had himself a big day at The Ridge on Monday, winning five races during the afternoon. Besides the already mentioned Rollinlikethunder and Force N Fury, Monti also won with Starznheaven (1:50.4, $5.80), J Js Delivery (1:52.4, $5.20) and OK Kudo (1:52.4, $2.60).

Four or Monti’s wins came courtesy of trainer Jimmy Nickerson, who’s red hot barn had a stellar day scoring the Grand Slam on Monday.

Live racing resumes at Plainridge Park on Thursday (July 22) at 4 p.m.

Plainridge Park will host the $250,000 Spirit of Massachusetts Trot, the $100,000 Clara Barton Distaff Pace and the $50,000 Bert Beckwith Memorial Pace on Sunday (July 25) with post time set at 2 p.m. The day’s card will be worth in excess of $500,000 making it the richest day of harness racing in Massachusetts.

For full race results, click here.

By Tim Bojarski, for the Standardbred Owners of Massachusetts