๐๐ก๐ข ๐๐ฎ๐ง๐ฌ๐ก๐ข๐ง๐ ๐ฌ๐ก๐จ๐ง๐ ๐๐ซ๐ข๐ ๐ก๐ญ๐ฅ๐ฒ ๐ข๐ง ๐๐ฅ๐๐ข๐ง๐ซ๐ข๐๐ ๐ ๐๐๐ซ๐ค ๐๐ฉ๐๐ง
Ahi Sunshine has already won six races this year, but none of them came at Plainridge Park, despite having started there five times. That all changed on Monday (July 8) afternoon when the 4-year-old horse captured the $20,000 Open Handicap pacing feature in a career best effort at The Ridge.
Ahi Sunshine (Drew Monti) got away a gapped sixth as Alex Having Fun (Nick Graffam) took over a quarter to gain the lead from Torrid Saint A (Matty Athearn). Alex Having Fun settled in on top and then cruised to the half in :54.4 without any challenges from behind. However, that was about to change as Ahi Sunshine started his attack at the half and made his way alongside Alex Having Fun at three-quarters. After the pair paced in synchronicity around the final bend, Ahi Sunshine broke away from the duel and paced clear by 1-ยฝ lengths to win and take a new lifetime mark of 1:50.3.
Ahi Sunshine ($8.60) scored his seventh win of the year for owner Janie Kellogg and trainer Jackie Greene, who scored two winners on Monday.
In the undercard $17,000 conditioned pace, Justa Little Bit A (Nick Graffam) got away 10-ยฝ lengths behind Ucanttouchthis (Bruce Ranger) who set frantic fractions of :25.4, :53.2 and 1:21.1 through three-quarters. But Graffam had Justa Little Bit A out and rolling second-over behind Lifes A Puzzle (Kevin Switzwer Jr.) until they came off the far turn where he vacated the screen and made up a four length deficit in the stretch to win in 1:50.3.
Justa Little Bit A ($51.60) is owned and trained by Gretchen Rohr Athearn.
Justa Little Bit A wasnโt the only upset on the day. There was also Sixfingerfreddie (1:51.4, $63.60) and Meadowbrook Flash (1:52.3, $21.80) who lit up the tote board.
The Beckwith Boys were at it again on Monday with driver Brett Beckwith getting a grand slam and trainer Mark doing a double. Brettโs winners included To The Hunt (1:51.3, $3.40) and General Ward (1:53, $7.00) who were both trained by Mark, and Ideal Funding N (1:51, $3.20) and Sportsnest (1:55.2, $7.00) who rounded out his quadruple.
Planning a trip to Plainridge Park for harness racing and casino action? Consider staying at the Hilton Garden Inn Foxborough Patriot Place Hotel Click here.