Rodman was a slam-dunk at Plainridge

Plainville, MA — After a pair of difficult trips from two outside posts, Rodman (State Treasurer) finally drew inside and got back to his winning ways in the $15,000 harness racing feature pace at Plainridge Park on Tuesday (June 27).

Out To Get Lucky (Drew Campbell) was on a mission early, opening up a three-length lead in a hasty :25.4 quarter. While the rest of the field struggled to keep up, Dempsey Hanover (Bruce Ranger) and Rodman (Matty Athearn) tracked the closest and started to reel-in the leader at the half in :55.1.

Out To Get Lucky gunned it one more time as he went to three-quarters in :27.3, but his fortunes would then change in the last turn. Dempsey Hanover pulled the pocket and came alongside and at the top of the stretch while Rodman split horses and was pacing strongly in the middle of the track. Halfway down the lane, Rodman grabbed the lead and took it all the way to the line where he won by 1-¾ lengths in a new lifetime mark of 1:52.2.

After winning three straight races when he came to Plainridge in May, Rodman ($21.20) got his fourth of the year for trainer Mark Eaton, who co-owns the winner with Robert Griffin.

RODMAN REPLAY

Bruce Ranger had a natural hat trick that started in race two, which was the undercard $12,500 conditioned pace.

He got away fifth with the 38-1 Hunting Angels (Huntsville) and found himself last at three-quarters as Use Yah Blinkah (Jim Hardy) led the race to that point.

As they spiraled off the last turn, Ranger went four deep with Hunting Angels who then mowed down the entire field with a furious stretch drive to win by one length in 1:54.1 and take a new lifetime mark.

Hunting Angels ($78.80) is owned by William Mc Elvain and trained by James Dunn.

HUNTING ANGELS REPLAY

Kevin Switzer Jr. also had a driving triple on Tuesday while 11 different trainers each won one race during the proceedings.

Live racing will resume at Plainridge Park on Thursday (June 29) at 4 p.m. and there will be a $3,465 carryover in the Wicked Hi-5 pentafecta wager in race six and a $602 carryover in the Pick-6 that starts in race four.

For complete race results, click here.

by Tim Bojarski, for the Standardbred Owners of Massachusetts