Ponda Rocky powers to easy win

Plainville, MA — Ponda Rocky (Pastor Stephen) had the “eye of the tiger” at Plainridge Park on Tuesday (May 5) after winning the $17,000 featured trot in a unanimous decision as the heavily-backed favorite.  

Nick Graffam sent Ponda Rocky to the front and set up shop on the point in short order. With Pantofolaio (Mitchell Cushing) sitting the pocket, Ponda Rocky stepped off quarters of :28, :57.4 and 1:26 as he was pulling away from the field entering the final bend.

Ponda Rocky was up by five lengths when he entered the stretch and Graffam had him wrapped-up as he headed for home. Ponda Rocky cruised to the line ahead of the late-closing Cash Out Express (Jay Randall) and Pantafolaio to win by 1-1/2 lengths in 1:55.2.

PONDA ROCKY REPLAY

It was the first win of the year for Ponda Rocky ($3.80) who is owned by his trainer, Mark Eaton, in partnership with Robert Griffin.

Earlier in the $13,000 trot for 4-year-olds and under, Get Outa My Lane (Mike Oosting) left from post one and led to the half in 1:00.1. There, Fairytale Moni (Nick Graffam) mounted a challenge from the outside and pressured the leader to three-quarters. Get Outa My Lane was unfazed by the predator and entered the last turn on top by a length. When she hit the stretch, Get Outa My Lane opened up by two and won her first lifetime race in 1:57.1.

Get Outa My Lane ($13.60) is owned by K R Breeding and trained by Domenico Cecere.

GET OUTA MY LANE REPLAY

Drivers Matty Athearn, Nick Graffam and Drew Monti and trainer Kathleen Brewer, all scored two wins during the afternoon.

Racing resumes at Plainridge Park on Thursday (May 7) at 4 p.m. and there will be a $3,484 carryover in the Wicked Hi-5 pentafecta wager in the sixth race.

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 Plainridge Park