Sea Can scores another Plainridge feature win

Plainville, MA — Sea Can (Muscle Mass) turned an advantageous trip into his second feature win at Plainridge Park after taking the $25,000 Open Handicap harness racing trot on Thursday (Aug. 22) afternoon.

Sea Can (Nick Graffam) tucked in second behind Sidd Finch (Drew Campbell) who set soft fractions of :28 and :57 to the half. That prompted Delayed Hanover (Mark Whitcroft) to pull from third and advance towards the leader at three-quarters. Delayed Hanover and Sidd Finch matched strides around the last turn until Graffam shook loose with Sea Can, who made his way to the middle of the stretch and then blew right by both to clear by a half length and win in 1:55.

SEA CAN REPLAY

It was the second win in the last three starts for Sea Can ($3.80) who is owned by Burke Racing and Weaver Bruscemi. Joe Nelson trains the winner.

In the $20,000 upper-level conditioned trot, Cruising Tom (Muscle Mass, Matty Athearn) also took a stalking position from fourth as Raybarnz (Ivan Davies) snapped off fractions of :28, :57.3 and 1::26.

By that third station, Bill Bauer (Drew Campbell) was challenging on the outside and Cruising Tom was right behind him as they made their way through the final bend. When they spun into the stretch, Athearn had Cruising Tom three-deep and rolling and took the lead as they straightened for home. Once on top, Cruising Tom was a clear winner by a length in 1:55.3. It was the fourth win of the year for Cruising Tom ($6.40) who is owned by Rick Cortese and Marc Reynolds. Jimmy Nickerson trains the winner.

CRUISING TOM REPLAY

Athearn, Nickerson and Reynolds also won with Mr. Experience (Muscle Mass, 1:56.3, $12.20) to get that connection a double and Athearn added another win with Twoscoopsforjack (RC Royalty, 1:54.3, $39.00) to get the hat trick for himself.

Another connection that was red hot on Thursday was driver Bruce Ranger, trainer Domenico Cecere and owner Lindy Farms of Connecticut, who teamed up for a hat trick. They won with Treatyofversaille (International Moni, 1:59.3, $2.40), International Aid (International Moni, 1:57.2, $3.80) and Dejerate Hanover (International Moni. 1:53.3, $2.80).

Live racing will resume at Plainridge Park on Monday (Aug 26) with post time at 4 p.m. and the card will feature a $1,465 carryover in the Wicked Hi-5 in race six.

For complete race results, click here: US Trotting results.

by Tim Bojarski, for the Standardbred Owners of Massachusetts