Remember Titans got a perfect pocket trip and dominated late to win the $25,000 Open Handicap trotting feature in a lifetime-best effort at Plainridge Park on Tuesday afternoon (May 31).
Two-time top-trot winner and post-time favourite Nows The Moment led the pack to the quarter in a blistering :26.4 as Remember Titans followed suit and ducked in second. After getting to the half in :56.2, Blue Knight came first over and drew alongside Remember Titans by three-quarters in pursuit of the leader. But that bid failed and when it did, driver Jay Randall pulled Remember Titans and he flew by Nows The Moment, opening three lengths at the light where he won in a career mark of 1:53.4.
Remember Titans is undefeated at Plainridge Park this year, now going four for four during the meet. It was also his seventh win pushing his 2022 bank to $88,349 in a career season for his owners Kellogg Racing Stables and Jackie Greene, who also does the training. He paid $4.60 to win.
The high-powered Tuesday card also saw three $17,500 condition races contested, the first of which was also a trot.
Four Under Par took control of the race before the quarter and led from there to the finish. With Gabbys Wild Child in hot pursuit the entire way, Four Under Par stepped off fractions of :28.2, :58.1 and 1:26.2. Then Monti pulled Gabbys Wild Child coming off the last turn and they dug in hard to recoup the deficit in deep stretch. But Four Under Par was very tough and hung on to win by three-quarter lengths in 1:54.4.
It was the sixth win in the last seven starts for Four Under Par and owner William Hartt. Lance Hudson trains the winner. Bruce Ranger drove the $5 winner.
Then on the pace, Audashious Hanover (Drew Monti) took a similar path to victory by going gate to wire. Audashious Hanover took control off the gate in a swift :26.1 quarter and was on cruise from there with So Amazing watching intently from the pocket and no other threat looming. At the top of the stretch, So Amazing tipped and took her best shot to get within half length of the leader, but ultimately came up short as Audashious Hanover hung on by a half length in a lifetime-best 1:52.
It was the fourth win of the year for Audashious Hanover, who is having her best year ever, for owners Marc Reynolds and Rick Cortese. Jimmy Nickerson trains the $3.40 winner and Drew Monti sat in the sulky. Monti and Nickerson teamed up for a total of three wins on Tuesday.
The second pace was won by Wyatt J, who made an early move to secure the win. After getting away third to Quick Shot at the quarter, Randall brushed and crushed from fourth past that station and had the lead before the half. As Wyatt J got to three-quarters in 1:22.3, Sports Obsession had moved from third and was alongside the leader around the last turn. After they straightened for home, Wyatt J and Sports Obsession battled all the way to the line with Wyatt J hanging on by a neck in 1:51.1, giving him a seasonal mark.
It was the second win of the year for Wyatt J, second win of the afternoon for his connections Kellogg Racing Stables and Jackie Greene and third driving win of the day for Jay Randall. He paid $9 to win.
Live racing resumes at Plainridge Park on Thursday (June 2) with post time at 4 p.m. (EDT). Free full past performance race programs for all live race days can be downloaded by visiting the track's website and clicking the "Racing" tab.
(Plainridge Park)