The feature race on Friday, Nov. 24 at Plainridge Park was a memorial race named in honour of former Plainridge starting judge Rick Flanders, who passed away in October.
Members of several New England horsemen’s associations along with owners, trainers, grooms and drivers gathered in the winner’s circle to make a special presentation to the family and also observe a moment of silence for Mr. Flanders.
The $25,000 Winners-Over featured pace went to Always A Miki, who went gate-to-wire in an impressive romp for driver Matty Athearn.
Athearn grabbed the lead with Always A Miki before the quarter and settled in for the remainder of the tour. He got to the half in :54.4 when Lifes A Puzzle (Kevin Switzer Jr.) came alongside and pressured the leader for the next quarter mile. Always A Miki got to three-quarters in 1:23.2 while turning back the challenge from Lifes A Puzzle before entering the far turn, but the challenges just kept on coming. As they straightened for the line, Alex Having Fun (Drew Campbell) was barreling down the centre of the track while the tripping Hespoisedtopunce (Brett Beckwith) found room at the pylons and was able to get underway. Athearn continued to urge Always A Miki as they closed on the wire and he maintained his advantage to win by a neck in 1:53.1.
It was the sixth win of the year for Always A Miki ($2.80) who is owned by Joe Trice and trained by Jimmy Nickerson.
Earlier on the card, Athearn surpassed the $2 million mark in driver earnings for the current meet with a win aboard Woman In Gold N (1:56.2, $6.20), Athearn is the second driver this year to reach $2 million in seasonal earnings at Plainridge and joins Bruce Ranger, who hit that milestone last week. Athearn and Ranger are also the only two drivers to ever surpass that earnings level at The Ridge, Ranger also achieving it in 2021.
There was also a $25,000 District 9 pace on the card for 100% New England-owned horses where Miki U So Fine (Mitchell Cushing) took the lead before the half, rebuffed a challenge from Woodys Cash Crop (Nick Graffam) in the third quarter and then swelled up in the lane to win by 3-1/4 lengths in 1:53.3.
It was the fifth win of the year for Miki U So Fine ($5.20) and it pushed his earnings past the century mark for 2023, now sitting at $105,205 for owner/trainer Domenic Longobardi.
Longobardi had a consecutive training double after he won the preceding race with Beach Watch (1:55.2, $12.20), who was also driven by Mitchell Cushing. Nickerson also doubled on the card after he scored with Manferno (1:53.4, $6.20), who was also driven by Athearn to complete his driving hat trick.
Live harness racing will resume at Plainridge Park on Monday, Nov. 27 with post time at 1 p.m. Monday kicks off the final week of racing for 2023 at Plainridge Park, followed by Tuesday (Nov. 28) and Thursday (Nov. 30).
(Standardbred Owners of Massachusetts)