Athearn bags three Opens on five win day

Plainville, MA — Driver Matty “Ice” Athearn was red hot at Plainridge Park on Thursday (Sept. 17) afternoon as he won five races on the card, including a clean sweep of all three featured harness racing Opens.

First, in the $23,000 Open pace for fillies and mares, Ahtearn won with Swedish Starlet N, who put in a stellar performance by going gate to wire for her second consecutive win.

Mrs. Cheese (Kevin Switzer Jr.) parked Swedish Starlet N to the quarter before she crossed-over and tripped the timer in :26.2. Swedish Starlet N then made her way to the half where Sweet Hayley Jane A (Ron Cushing) moved first-over and into contention. Sweet Hayley Jane A drew alongside Swedish Starlet N and pulled ahead by a half length at the 1:22.1 three-quarters. But when they entered the last turn, Swedish Starlet N kicked it in gear and started to pull away from Sweet Hayley Jane A. When they turned for home, Swedish Starlet N was a length clear and extended her lead to two under wraps at the line where she won in 1:50.2.

SWEDISH STARLET N REPLAY

It was the sixth win of the year for Swedish Starlet N ($6.60), who is owned by Tim Bojarski and Tony Gruppo and trained by Jimmy Nickerson.

Then Athearn won the following race which was the $20,000 Open II Handicap trot with Memorynimagination, who also led at every station en route to victory.

Kazio DK (Kevins Switzer Jr.) was first to the front off the gate, but Memorynimagintion went overland from post seven and made the front as he passed the quarter in :26.4. Once he settled on the point, Memorynimagination got to the half in :55.4 and three-quarters in 1:24, with Kazio DK still tracking from the pocket and Pepper Wow (Mitchell Cushing) making his way into contention, third on the outside. The top positions remained unchanged around the last turn except that Memorynimagination’s lead had extended to two before they turned for home. And when they did, Memoryinimagination was long gone under a line drive and won by 2-1/4 lengths in 1:52.4.

MEMORYNIMGINATION REPLAY

It was the 11th win of the year for Memorynimagination ($31.60), who is owned by Joe Trice and trained by Jimmy Nickerson.

Finally in the $23,000 Open Handicap pace for male participants, Athearn won with Still Rollin N, who came from well off the pace to score a narrow victory.

Still Rollin N got away sixth behind Soho Spectre A (Brett Beckwith), who outleft Tenzing Bromac N (Ron Cushing) as they paced to the quarter in :26.3. After the race reached the half in :55.2, Wild Bill Wyatt (Mitchell Cushing) pulled first-over with So Rock N Roll (Kevin Switzer Jr.) on his back and Still Rollin N still gapped sixth, but joining the outer flow. Soho Spectre A reached three-quarters in 1:22.3 with the field now bunched and the top six in two rows, but much would change in the turn. So Rock N Roll tipped three-deep with Still Rollin N on his back, then at the top of the stretch, Still Rollin N went four-wide and forged to the front. Once on top, Still rollin N held a one-half length lead to the line where he won in 1:50.2.

STILL ROLLIN N REPLAY

Still Rollin N ($4.40) is owned by VIP Internet Stable and his trainer, Amanda Kelley.

Athearn also won with Grits N Six (1:56.4, $7.80) and Just Roxy (1:54, $4.20) to complete his quintuple. Four of his drives were divided between trainers Gretchen Athearn and Jimmy Nickerson, who led all other conditioners for the day with two wins apiece.

Racing will resume at Plainridge Park on Monday (Sept. 21) at 2 p.m.

Free full card past performance programs for every live card of racing at Plainridge Park can always be downloaded at their website (plainridgeparkcasino.com) under the “Racing” tab.

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

by Tim Bojarski, for the Standardbred Owners of Massachusetts