Sundown Kid handles rain in Plainridge pace

Plainville, MA — The rain fell hard at Plainridge Park on Monday afternoon (June 27) but that didn’t bother Sundown Kid (Sunshine Beach) who matched his season’s best effort while winning the $17,500 upper-level conditioned harness racing pace in convincing fashion.

Rollinlikethunder (Jay Randall) led the field at the quarter but Nick Graffam brushed and crushed Sundown Kid from third to the top just past that station to take control. He then hit the half in a swift :54.1 and saw Sea Isle City (Kevin Switzer Jr.) coming at him as they paced up the back straight.

Sea Isle City continued to advance towards the leader, but he couldn’t get closer then 1/2 length to Sundown Kid, who peeled off a :27.3 third panel while keeping all challengers in check. As the race came off the far turn, Sundown Kid dug in and swelled up, cruising home in hand by ¾ length in a season’s best tying time of 1:51.

It was the third win in the last four starts for Sundown Kid ($4.40) which just happens to coincide with his tenure of being trained by Randy Bickmore and driven by Graffam. The 5-year-old gelding is owned by Kevin Gee, Robert Kopak and his trainer Bickmore.

SUNDOWN KID REPLAY

There were also two $15,000 condition paces that were co-featured on Monday.

In the first, Dubious Claim (Western Terror, Jim Hardy) got away fifth while Tisadream N (Drew Monti) led the field to the half in :56.4. But Hardy pulled Dubious Claim and followed the cover of Skyway Ballistic (Ron Cushing) up the backstretch, tipped three-deep off the last turn and took the lead by ½ length at the wire over a fast-closing Skyway Victor (Drew Campbell) to win in 1:53.

Dubious Claim ($11.80) is owned by Dave Thibault, Bob Bogigian, Stephen Zajchowski and Mrs. Amy Kapilow-Cohen. Jolene Andrews trains the winner.

Then later Unwritten Rule (Captaintreacherous, Bruce Ranger) was the commander of fractions off the gate and got to the half in :56.2. Come On Raags (Kevin Switzer Jr.) joined the fray on the outside and pushed the issue for the rest of the race. When the field hit the top of the lane, Unwritten Rule still had the lead but Anvil Hands (Jim Hardy) who had initially gotten away eighth, came flying on the outside in the middle of the track and crossed the line in unison with Unwritten Rule.

After the photo was examined by the judges, it was determined there was a dead-heat and both horses claimed victory in 1:53.

Unwritten Rule ($4.20) is owned by Anthony Ventriglio and is trained by Melissa Beckwith while Anvil Hands ($11.20) is owned by Dave and Christine Thibault, his driver Hardy and his trainer Jolene Andrews.

Drivers Nick Graffam, Jim Hardy, Bruce Ranger and Kevin Switzer Jr. all had two wins on Monday. Jolene Andrews led all trainers with two wins as well.

There is a large and growing carryover of $36,261 available in the sixth race Wicked Hi-5 wager when live racing resumes at Plainridge Park on Tuesday afternoon (June 28) with post time at 4 p.m. Free full past performance race programs for all live race days can be downloaded by visiting the track’s website here and clicking the “Racing” tab.

For complete race results, click here.

by Tim Bojarski, for the Standardbred Owners of Massachusetts