Coming off an 8-3/4 length victory in a seasonal best time of 1:53 last week, Eurobond returned to Plainridge Park and tallied another easy win in the $20,000 Open trotting feature on Friday afternoon.
Driver Bruce Ranger floated Eurobond off the gate and incrementally made his way to the front in a :28.2 first quarter. He claimed the lead in front of the stands and then basically coasted home from there.
The field stayed single file to the half before Joey Bats (Kevin Switzer, Jr.) made a first over move to challenge. As the race got to the three-quarters in 1:25.4, Joey Bats got to Eurobond's wheel, but that would be as far as he went. Eurobond opened up a two length advantage around the last turn and trotted home under no urging whatsoever to win by 2-3/4 lengths in 1:54.1.
It was the third win in only four starts this year for Eurobond ($4.00) for his owners Lindy Farms of Connecticut and Robert Rudolph. Domenico Cecere trains the winner.
Later in the $15,000 Winners-Over trot, Winding Hill also made it two in a row with an impressive come from behind victory.
Pappy Go Go (Drew Monti) led the field to the half in :57.1 as Winding Hill (Shawn Gray) watched from last. But that soon changed as Gray pulled to follow the live cover of Make It A Double (Matty Athearn) who was streaking up the outside.
Make It A Double drew alongside Pappy Go Go around the last turn where the field bunched substantially. When they hit the stretch, Pappy Go Go checked out and Winding Hill fanned three deep and engaged Make It A Double in a thrilling stretch duel. The two battled down the lane until Winding Hill got the advantage and won by three-quarters of a length in 1:55.4.
Winding Hill ($14.20) got his fourth win of the year for owner Diane Whittemore and trainer Marissa Chadbourne.
Shawn Gray was the top dog in the sulky again on Friday, winning three races during the card.
There was a lucky winner in the ninth race Wicked Hi-5 wager who turned a 20-cent wager into a $26,883 payoff on the strength of the winning combination of 1-3-6-5-9.
Live racing resumes at Plainridge Park on Monday (June 14) with post time for the first race at 4 p.m.
(Standardbred Owners of Massachusetts)