Plainville, MA — Recently landed Australian harness racing import Solesseo Matuca A (A Rocknroll Dance) scored his first North American win while registering the fastest mile of the young meet in the $19,000 featured pace at Plainridge Park on Monday (April 28) afternoon.

Matty Athearn got away third with Solesseo Matuca A while Little Willy (Brett Beckwith) took the field to the half in :55.3. At that point, Athearn tipped Solesseo Matuca A and rushed up the back straight to the front and opened up a 1-½ length lead in the :27.1 third quarter. After rounding the last turn, Solesseo Matuca A dug in as he headed for home while holding off the fast-closing Price Control (Mitchell Cushing) to win in a lifetime best 1:50.4

SOLESSEO MATUCA A REPLAY

Solesseo Matuca A ($9.20) is owned by Tim Bojarski and Tony Gruppo and trained by Jimmy Nickerson.

There were also two mid-level $16,000 conditioned events on Monday.

In the first division, Always A Miki (Always B Miki) put in a strong effort to get his first win of 2025.

I’m No Outlaw (Drew Monti), Justa Little Bit A (Shawn Gray) and Always A Miki (Matty Athearn) changed leads several times before Always A Miki took command in front of the stands after a :27 first quarter. From there, he marched sharply on the lead past the half in :55.4 and three-quarters in 1:24 before turning for home and holding off Mansome (Brett Beckwith) by a length in 1:52.1.

Always A Miki ($3.40) is owned by Joe Trice and trained by Jimmy Nickerson.

ALWAYS A MIKI REPLAY

 

Then later, Fouerver Boy brushed in the stretch to pull away for the win.

Fourever Boy (Brett Beckwith) got away fifth as Hespoisedtopounce A (Matty Athearn) led the field through quarters of :26.4, :55 and 1:23.1 while Alta Classic A (Mitchell Cushing) was applying the pressure and Fourever Boy traveled in the breeze, second-over. At the top of the lane, Beckwith tipped Fourever Boy three deep and paced home to an easy 2-1/2 length victory in 1:51.4.

The million-dollar winning Fourever Boy ($4.00) is owned by Micki Rae Stables and trained by Melissa Beckwith.

Matty Athearn, Brett Beckwith and Mitchell Cushing all had driving doubles during the card while trainers Jimmy Nickerson and Mark Eaton joined them in the two-win club.

There was a huge payoff in the day’s fourth race after Colt Bennett (Mitchell Cushing) won and paid $39.40 followed by Pembroke Revenge (Walter Case Jr.) who returned $47.00 to place and the $2 exacta rewarded the longshot speculators with a $6,255.60 jackpot.

Racing resumes at Plainridge Park on Tuesday (April 29) at 4 p.m.

Free full past performance programs and race replays for all live racing days at Plainridge Park can be found at plainridgeparkcasino.com

For complete race results, click here: US Trotting results.

by Tim Bojarski, for Plainridge Park