After scoring a grand slam on Monday (July 10), Matty “Ice” Athearn came right back and was on a mission Tuesday afternoon (July 11), winning five races on the card at Plainridge Park including the featured $15,000 conditioned pace with Rodman in a lifetime-best performance.
Driver Drew Campbell sent Out To Get Lucky to the front, leaving Rodman in the pocket while the two broke away from the field in a :26.3 quarter. From there, the group stayed single file past the half with no serious threats from behind. After motoring by three-quarters in 1:23.2, Out To Get Lucky stretched out to a two-length advantage in the last turn while Rodman and Twentysevenbelow struggled to keep up. But when Athearn tipped Rodman at the top of the lane, he swelled and paced with conviction to the wire where he caught Out To Get Lucky by a nose to win in 1:51.3 and take a new lifetime mark.
It was the fifth win in only 10 starts this year for Rodman, who is owned by his trainer Mark Eaton in conjunction with Robert Griffin. He paid $5.80 to win.
Rodman was also the fifth win of the day for Athearn and followed Valentine Rose (2:00.1, two-year-old non-betting), Isitfridayyet (1:53.3, $3.40), No Soup Tonight (1:53.3, $3.20) and Manferno (1:52.4, $5.20) in the sequence. Valentine Rose, No Soup Tonight and Manferno also took new lifetime marks for trainer Jimmy Nickerson, who was the top conditioner on Thursday after notching his hat trick.
Another hot driver on Tuesday was Brett Beckwith, who won three races of his own, including the secondary featured $12,000 pace with Rock The Belles.
Like he often does, Beckwith left with Rock The Belles and grabbed the lead at the quarter. Once hitting the pylons, Rock The Belles backed the half down to :57.1 before Maloucious (Matty Athearn) came calling and pushed the issue to three-quarters with a :28.3 split. At the top of the stretch, Maloucious faded and Rock The Belles bolted home by 2-1/2 lengths in 1:53.3. Rock The Belles is owned by Brett Crawford and Michelle Crawford, who also trains the winner.
Beckwith completed his cycle with Get Extreme (1:54, $5) and Stonebridge Grand (1:53.4, $43.40).
Live harness racing will resume at Plainridge Park on Thursday, July 13 at 4 p.m. (EDT) and there will be a $5,147 carryover in the Wicked Hi-5 pentafecta wager in Race 6.
(Plainridge Park)