Matty Ice on top in the rain

Plainville, MA — Matty “Ice” Athearn lived up to his name on Tuesday (Oct. 4) after he took no prisoners and scored a stone-cold winner in each of two $15,000 harness racing co-features at Plainridge Park.

In the first upper-level conditioned pace Athearn put Sundown Kid (Sunshine Beach) on the point in :26.4, backed off the half to :55.1 and then held off the tripping Little Willy (Brett Beckwith) all the way to the wire to win in 1:51.3.

Sundown Kid ($4.00) got his sixth win of the year for owners Kevin Gee, Robert Kopak and Randy Bickmore, who also trains the winner.

Bickmore also trained Tim McMiki who was the beneficiary of Athearn’s horsemanship in the co-feature.

SUNDOWN KID REPLAY

In similar fashion to Sundown Kid, Athearn shot to the lead with Tim McMiki (Always Be Miki), who usually races from off the pace. After seating Stormy Hall GB (Kevin Switzer Jr.) in :26.4, Tim McMiki opened up two lengths by the half and traveled comfortably from there. He paced his back half in :56.1 and cruised home to a 1-½ length victory and new lifetime mark of 1:51.3.

Emery Pellitier owns Tim McMiki ($12.60) who is having the best year of his career.

TIM MCMIKI REPLAY

Drivers Brett Beckwith, Drew Campbell and Jim Hardy also had two wins each as did trainer Jolene Andrews.

Live racing resumes at Plainridge Park on Thursday afternoon (Oct. 6) at 2 p.m. Free full past performance race programs for all live race days can be downloaded by visiting the track’s website and clicking the “Racing” tab.

For complete race results, click here.

by Tim Bojarski, for the Standardbred Owners of Massachusetts