Trotting mare smashes own track record

Plainville, MA — P L Notsonice made her way to Massachusetts last week and rewrote the record book for 4-year-old harness racing trotting mares after she won in 1:53.3. For her encore on Friday (Oct. 1), she knocked off over a full second from that effort as she just jogged in 1:52 in the $25,000 Open Handicap trot at Plainridge Park.

Renaldo Morales III settled P L Notsonice in third while Blue Knight (Ivan Davies) smoked to the half in :54.4. In the second turn Morales tipped P L Notsonice, took the lead on the back straight and then simply ran away. She opened up three lengths by three-quarters and six at the top of the stretch. PL Notsonice then turned for home and simply cruised to her new lifetime mark of 1:52.

On the strength of her fifth win of the year, P L Notsonice ($2.40) pushed her earnings in excess of $75,000 for owner Gratitude First. Dale Gilmour does the training. She is a four-year-old mare by Kadabra.

P L NOTSONICE REPLAY

In the co-featured $22,500 Winners-Over trot, Northern Sultan ($21.40) moved up in class on the strength of his win and won again after tripping-out behind Big Rich (Kevin Switzer Jr.) who cut the mile from the start.

As the race spiraled off the far turn, driver Mike Stevenson tipped Northern Sultan (Royalty For Life) and took the lead from Big Rich in deep stretch and won in 1:54.3, which was a new lifetime mark.

Northern Sultan is owned and trained by Bill Krikorian.

NORTHERN SULTAN REPLAY

Nick Graffam had a driving hat trick on Friday.

Racing resumes at Plainridge Park on Sunday (Oct. 3) with post time at 2 p.m. The Massachusetts Sire Stakes resume on Sunday when 3-year-olds of both sexes and gaits reconvene for their second leg of action.

For full race results, click here.

By Tim Bojarski for the Standardbred Owners of Massachusetts