Glen McNeil Picks Plainridge Park Thursday July 8, 2025
𝗕𝗶𝗴 𝗕𝗼𝘅 𝗛𝗮𝗻𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗿 𝗦𝗲𝘁𝘀 𝗙𝗮𝘀𝘁𝗲𝘀𝘁 𝗧𝗿𝗼𝘁 𝗼𝗳 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗠𝗲𝗲𝘁 𝗮𝘁 𝗣𝗹𝗮𝗶𝗻𝗿𝗶𝗱𝗴𝗲
Big Box Hanover put up big boy numbers at Plainridge Park on Monday (July 7) afternoon as he scored the fastest trotting mile of the meet and a new lifetime mark of 1:52.3 in the featured $25,000 Open trot.
Nick Graffam took no prisoners with Big Box Hanover as he decisively seated By The Book (Kevin Switzer Jr.) going to the quarter in :27. Graffam then backed off the half to a soft :56 before Morning Edition (Shawn Gray) pulled first-over and drew alongside the leader at three-quarters after a snappy :27.3 panel.
With the top three tightly bunched around the far turn, Big Box Hanover continued to set the tempo and entered the stretch looking very much a winner. But he needed to hold off Morning Edition and a fast-closing By The Book before he crossed the line in front by one-quarter length to close out his career best, 1:52.3 outing.
It was the 58th lifetime win for Big Box Hanover ($10.20) who is owned and trained by Larry Stalbaum.
The very next race was the secondary featured $21,000 upper-level conditioned trot where the Massachusetts-bred Bravado upset the field at 48-1 while also taking a new lifetime mark.
Bill Bauer (Shawn Gray) led the field through quarters of :27.1 and :57.1 while Bravado (Kevin Switzer Jr.) got away eighth and last before coming second-over behind Snowpiercer (Drew Monti). Snowpiercer continued to pressure Bill Bauer to three-quarters and around the last turn where Bravado tipped-off cover and bolted home to a half-length victory in a career best 1:54.
It was the fourth win in only seven starts this year for Bravado ($99.20) who is owned by Ray Campbell Jr. and Al Ross and trained by Gretchen Athearn.
Brett Beckwith was the leading driver on Monday after he won three races during the day while Melissa Beckwith and Domenico Cecere were the top trainers with two wins apiece.