PHOTOS: New Track Record Headlines Spirit of Massachusetts Trot at Plainridge Park Casino
- August 03, 2022
- by MGC Communications
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The Spirit of Massachusetts Trot brought good weather and even better horse racing to the Commonwealth on Monday, July 25, one day after the state’s premier live racing day was originally scheduled to be held before the finale of a sweltering heatwave delayed the festivities 24 hours.
The headline from the marquee day of racing in Massachusetts: a new track record for older trotting horses at Plainridge Park Casino as Alrajah One IT and his driver, Dexter Dunn, won the $250,000 Spirit of Massachusetts Trot with a winning time of 1:50.3. That time was a full second faster than the previous record-holding one of 1:51.3, recorded in the 2019 event by Guardian Angel AS.
Dunn is no stranger to the winner’s circle at the Spirit of Massachusetts Trot, having won the event the previous two years as well. However, it was his first time claiming victory at the event with Alrajah One IT; Dunn’s previous two victories came with Manchego. Alrajah One IT is trained by Ake Svanstedt.
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Dunn was not the only repeat winner to return to victory on Monday. Plainridge Park Casino also hosted the Clara Barton Pace earlier that evening. For the fourth consecutive year, driver Tim Tetrick and trainer Jim King Jr. won the event, with their horse, Lyons Sentinel, winning the race for the second year in a row as well. Their winning time was 1:50.2.
“The Spirit of Massachusetts Trot and Clara Barton Pace are two of the state’s premier horse races held throughout the year,” said Dr. Alex Lightbown, the MGC’s Director of Racing and Chief Veterinarian. “The events give patrons opportunities to see some of the best racehorses and drivers from around the country and celebrate the best local participants and take in the spectacle that is harness racing at the track at Plainridge Park Casino.”
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