Plainridge: Spanzaaaano topples track record in Bunker Hill Trot

The track record for 3-year-old trotting geldings at Plainridge Park was re-written on Thursday afternoon (May 16) after Spanzaaaano (Coragiosso-Grace N Charlie) put on a sparkling gate-to-wire performance to claim victory in the $100,000 Bunker Hill Trot.

North America's leading dash driver, Aaron Merriman, sent Spanzaaaano to the front and seated the field in a 27 2/5 quarter. Once in control, Merriman slammed on the brakes with a 30 1/5 second panel and basically won the race there. Spanzaaaano then sped to the three-quarter pole in 27 4/5 as Show Me (Andy Miller, on the pegs, and French Kronos (Mattias Melander), in the breeze, chased closest from behind. Spanzaaaano circled the final turn and hit the stretch in full flight, then bolted to the line on top by 2 1/2 lengths, winning in 1:53 2/5.

The time was a new lifetime mark for Spanzaaaano and also replaced the old track record of 1:53 3/5 set by Khaosan Road exactly one year ago in this race. The stake record is 1:53 set by the colt Jonas K S in 2022.

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It was the first win in only the second start of the year for Spanzaaaano ($4.80), and it pushed the 2023 Ohio Sires Stakes star's lifetime earnings to $322,150. Spanzaaaano is owned by his trainer Chris Beaver, in partnership with Spaaaartners, Bill Manes and Leo Fleming.

Racing resumes at Plainridge Park on Monday (May 20) with post time at 4 p.m.

--press release (Standardbred Owners of Massachusetts)--