Makorori N wins fifth straight

Plainville, MA — After going four for four at Vernon Downs since late May, Makorori N came to Massachusetts and won his fifth straight race after taking the featured $17,000 conditioned pace at Plainridge Park on Thursday (July 16) afternoon. 

Makorori N (Shawn Gray) got away fifth and 12-½ lengths behind a speed battle on the point between Sunsational (Bruce Ranger) and Lyons Honeymonster (Brad Irvine), who went toe to toe to the quarter in :26 flat. Lyons Honeymonster finally relented to the pocket and Sunsational then led the pack to the half in :55.2 and three-quarters in 1:23.

Heading to five-eighths an outer flow formed with Gracies Tough Guy (Kevin Switzer Jr.) pulling first ahead of Makorori N, who was now only three lengths behind the leader. At three-quarters, Lyons Honeymonster pulled the pocket and stalled in front of Gracies Tough Guy, forcing Makorori N three-deep. Then at the top of the lane, Makorori N ran down Sunsational, while holding off the fast-closing DeadMan’s chain (Brett Beckwith) to win by head in 1:52.1 to establish a new lifetime mark.

Makorori N ($5.20) is owned by Paul O’Niel and trained by Alicia Gray.

Earlier in the $15,000 conditioned pace for 4-year-olds and under, Captain Rocknroll (Mitchell Cushing) went right to the front, cut quarters of :27.3, :55.4 and 1:23.2 before turning for home and holding off Lyons Blewbyu (Bruce Ranger) to win in a lifetime best 1:52.4.

Captain Rocknroll ($25.80) is owned by Mona Dodd and Joseph Bradeen and trained by Mike Cushing.

Captain Rocknroll was only one of four wins registered by Mitchell Cushing on Thursday, who had a natural grand slam in races two through five. Cushing also won with Alvin Brickrock (1:52, $5.40), Twin B Jays (1:52.4, $12.60) and Heartofgold Devie (1:56.2, $7.20).

And like Captain Rocknroll, Heartofgold Devie is trained by Mike Cushing, making him the leading trainer for the afternoon.

Racing will resume at Plainridge Park on Sunday (July 19) at 2 p.m. for a special matinee card featuring the $300,000 G2 Spirit of Massachusetts Trot and the $150,000 G3 Clara Barton Distaff Pace.

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. You can also watch all the race replays on that same page.

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

by Tim Bojarski, for the Standardbred Owners of Massachusetts