Slam dunk for Rodman

Plainville, MA — Early positioning by harness racing driver Bruce Ranger put Rodman (State Treasurer) in the right spot late to win the $17,000 Claiming Handicap Allowance at Plainridge Park on Tuesday (Sept. 10) afternoon.

Macheasy A (Matty Athearn) battled Rodman for the lead and took the front before the :26.2 quarter. But Ranger quickly put Rodman back on the point before the half. It was there that TJs Indy Pacer (Shawn Gray) pulled first-over from fourth and grabbed the lead at three-quarters in 1:23.1. positions remained unchanged around the last turn but at the top of the stretch, Rodman came right at TJs Indy Pacer and ran him down by a nose in the shadow of the wire in 1:51.4. The time was a new seasonal mark.

RODMAN REPLAY

Rodman ($5.00) is owned by his trainer, Mark Eaton, in partnership with Robert Griffin.

There were also two $14,000 1-¼ mile paces on the card.

In the first, Sundown Kid (Jay Randall) tripped out behind Woody’s Cash Crop (Nick Graffam) to the top of the stretch and then bolted home to win in 2:22.1 and set a new track record for the distance.

Sundown Kid ($9.80) is owned and trained by Randy Bickmore.

SUNDOWN KID REPLAY

The second was won by Colonel Bayama (Bruce Ranger ) and also in a squeaker over Bay City (Shawn Gray) in 2:24.1.

Colonel Bayama ($23.00) is owned by Karma Racing and trained by Rob Harmon.

Matty Athearn, Drew Campbell, Drew Monti and Bruce Ranger all had driving doubles on Tuesday

Racing resumes at Plainridge Park on Tuesday (Sept. 10) at 2 p.m.

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

by Tim Bojarski, for the Standardbred Owners of Massachusetts