Resolve To Win awarded victory after dramatic disqualification

Plainville, MA — After finishing second to Memorynimagination in the $25,000 Open Handicap trot at Plainridge Park on Thursday (Oct. 15) afternoon, Resolve To Win (Resolve) was placed first when the winner was disqualified for making a lapped-on break at the wire.

Memorynimagination (Matty Athearn) left sharply from post five and established a two-length lead as he passed the :26.3 quarter, as Resolve To Win (Bruce Ranger) had gotten away last from post six. With Super Duper Cooper (Brett Beckwith) in the pocket, Memorynimagination got a :29.4 breather heading to the half, where Resolve To Win tipped first and flushed Pepper Wow (Mitchell Cushing) for cover.

Pepper Wow moved forward and got within a half length of Memorynimagination at three-quarters with Resolve To Win in tow, but the leader started to trot away in the turn. That made Resolve To Win go three-deep around Pepper Wow heading into the stretch and he had 2-½ lengths to make up. Memorynimagination straightened for home and was being chased by Super Duper Cooper and Resolve To Win, but was still clear by a length as he was heading for home. But then Memorynimagination got rough-gaited in the shadow of the wire as he crossed in 1:53.2.

After an inquiry, Memorynimagination was disqualified to second for a lapped-on break and Resolve To Win was placed first.

RESOLVE TO WIN REPLAY

Resolve To Win ($2.60) is owned by Pollack Racing and trained by Enrico Robinson.

Later in the $17,000 upper-level conditioned trot, Malibu Kid (Matty Athearn) got away sixth and remained there as Unevergonnagethis (Bruce Ranger) marched through quarters of :27, :56.2 and 1:24.2. At that last station, Malibu Kid found a clear opening along the pylons and got out with trot and started gobbling up ground around the far turn. Malibu Kid moved into fourth at the head of the stretch and then bolted to the line, where he caught Unevergonnagethis by a head in 1:54.1.

It was the 44th lifetime win for Malibu Kid ($22.60), who is owned by Shark Racing Stable and trained by Larry Stalbaum.

There was another $20,000 Romper Room race for 2-year-old trotters on Thursday that was won by Highest Mountain (Brett Beckwith), who went gait to wire in 1:57 to claim his first career win. Highest Mountain ($2.80) is owned by Moni Maker Stable and trained by Domenico Cecere.

Nick Graffam had a big day at The Ridge as he posted a grand slam during the program. Graffam won with Ponda Rocky (1:54, $6.00), The World Owes Me (1:55.1, $3.20), Wicked Fun (1:55.1, $11.40) and Fog Watch (1:56.3, $22.00).

Trainers Gretchen Athearn and Eric Dickson both had doubles on Thursday.

Racing will resume at Plainridge Park on Friday (Oct. 16) at 2 p.m. and there will also be a $9,908 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 the Standardbred Owners of Massachusetts