Plainridge Racecourse Race 5

1609M

Prize Money: $20,251

PONDA ROCKY (4) drew a wide gate last start and was never a genuine threat, beaten 8 metres into eighth at this track over 1609m. Won't find this any harder and he can finish a lot closer this time. BILL BAUER (3) scored last time out by 11 metres in a nice return to form at this track over 1609m. No excuses from this advantageous draw. It doesn't get any easier but he is capable of making it two on end. BRAVADO (2) should be at his peak for this. Finished fourth over 1609m at this track at the latest appearance eight days ago. Sure to give the top fancies plenty to think about. DRYDEN HANOVER (1) is in the mix following a respectable second at his most recent appearance over 1609m at this track.

Distance: 1609m
Track: Good
Weather: -
Surface: All Weather
Class: NW7500CD

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Dryden Hanover (Fr1) 8474161562
Trainer: Laura Shock ()
Driver: Brad Irvine
Prize Money: $205,766
Win / Place: 16% / 41%

5 yo Bay Gelding

Sire: WALNER (CAN)

Dam: DANGLE THEN DEKE

Rating

Stats

Career

80: 13-13-7

Distance

80: 13-13-7

Trk/Dst

11: 1-4-2

Track

11: 1-4-2

Season

15: 2-1-0

1st Up

2: 0-1-0

2nd Up

2: 0-1-0

3rd Up

2: 2-0-0

Metro

8: 1-1-0

Non-Metro

72: 12-12-7

Mobile

0: 0-0-0

Standing

0: 0-0-0

All-Weather

80: 13-13-7

Slushy

0: 0-0-0

Grass

0: 0-0-0

Best Mile

1:54.20

Driver Stats

Gear Changes

Lasix

Comments

Two back was well beaten into sixth behind Memorynimagination at this track over 1609m in a OPEN on May 4 at $114.80. Then a handy effort when beaten by 3 m finishing second behind Sunburnt Silverado at this track over 1609m in a NW7500CD on May 11 at $41.90. In the mix from the inside draw.

Last Starts days since last start

Place	Date	Track	Distance	Start	Surface	Barrier	Driver	Race Time	Mile Rate	Margin	SP	Days	Class	Prize	Prize Won	Result
2nd of 8	11/5/26	plainridge racecourse	1609m		All Weather	Fr6	Brad Irvine	1:55.10	1:55.10	3.0m	$42	7	NW7500CD	$23,743	$5,936	1. Sunburnt Silverado 2. Dryden Hanover 3. Snowman Hanover
6th of 8	4/5/26	plainridge racecourse	1609m		All Weather	Fr2	Brad Irvine	1:54.40	1:54.40	16.5m	$115	11	OPEN	$34,916	-	1. Memorynimagination 2. A New Leader 3. Resolve To Win
5th of 7	23/4/26	plainridge racecourse	1609m		All Weather	Fr3	Brad Irvine	1:54.20	1:54.20	25.5m	$6.60	7	NW7500CD	$21,106	$1,055	1. Bravado 2. Ponda Rocky 3. Pantofolaio
1st of 8	16/4/26	plainridge racecourse	1609m		All Weather	Fr5	Brad Irvine	1:54.20	1:54.20	12.8m	$1.70f	6	NW5000CD	$17,467	$8,734	1. Dryden Hanover 2. Shiv 3. Smooth Landing
6th of 10	10/4/26	Meadowlands	1609m		All Weather	Fr10	Brad Irvine	1:53.20	1:53.20	33.0m	$101	7	NW7500L5CD	$18,195	-	1. Green Pastures 2. Call Option 3. Interview Fra
1st of 9	3/4/26	Meadowlands	1609m		All Weather	Fr1	Brad Irvine	1:55.00	1:55.00	0.9m	$16	7	TM<77.5CD	$13,828	$6,914	1. Dryden Hanover 2. Southwind Mac 3. Geronimo Trio

Bravado (Fr2) 56345x2174
Trainer: Gretchen Athearn ()
Driver: Matthew Athearn
Prize Money: $335,707
Win / Place: 24% / 50%

6 yo Brown Gelding

Sire: TRIXTON (FR)

Dam: BOURBON 'N GRITS

Rating

Stats

Career

74: 18-9-10

Distance

74: 18-9-10

Trk/Dst

72: 18-8-10

Track

72: 18-8-10

Season

4: 1-1-0

1st Up

5: 0-3-0

2nd Up

5: 3-0-0

3rd Up

5: 2-1-0

Metro

0: 0-0-0

Non-Metro

74: 18-9-10

Mobile

0: 0-0-0

Standing

0: 0-0-0

All-Weather

74: 18-9-10

Slushy

0: 0-0-0

Grass

0: 0-0-0

Best Mile

1:54.00

Driver Stats

Comments

Won three starts back at this track over 1609m NW7500CD on April 23. Last start 4th (Fr7) over 1609m at this track beaten 4.5 m by Sunburnt Silverado (1:55.10) in NW7500CD on May 11 at $5.30. Top-three finish is well within his grasp.

Last Starts days since last start

Place	Date	Track	Distance	Start	Surface	Barrier	Driver	Race Time	Mile Rate	Margin	SP	Days	Class	Prize	Prize Won	Result
4th of 8	11/5/26	plainridge racecourse	1609m		All Weather	Fr7	Matthew Athearn	1:55.10	1:55.10	4.5m	$5.30	7	NW7500CD	$23,743	$1,899	1. Sunburnt Silverado 2. Dryden Hanover 3. Snowman Hanover
7th of 8	4/5/26	plainridge racecourse	1609m		All Weather	Fr4	Kevin Switzer (Jnr)	1:54.40	1:54.40	16.5m	$16	11	OPEN	$34,916	-	1. Memorynimagination 2. A New Leader 3. Resolve To Win
1st of 7	23/4/26	plainridge racecourse	1609m		All Weather	Fr1	Matthew Athearn	1:54.20	1:54.20	1.5m	$5.10	7	NW7500CD	$21,106	$10,553	1. Bravado 2. Ponda Rocky 3. Pantofolaio
2nd of 8	16/4/26	plainridge racecourse	1609m		All Weather	Fr5	Matthew Athearn	1:54.20	1:54.20	9.0m	$2.20	142	NW5000CD	$17,467	$4,367	1. Mocha Java 2. Bravado 3. Rodeo Hill
142 Day Spell
1st of 6	8/4/26	plainridge racecourse	1609m			-	Nicholas Graffam	1:59.10	1:59.10	6m	$0.00	-	Trial	$0	-	1. Bravado 2. Wall Street Edge 3. Grafenberg
5th of 7	25/11/25	plainridge racecourse	1609m		All Weather	Fr4	Nicholas Graffam	1:54.30	1:54.30	29.3m	$1.90f	8	NW5000CD	$22,901	$1,145	1. Balenciaga 2. Just Roxy 3. Poppy Wow

Bill Bauer (Fr3) 215246x761
Trainer: Nancy Bauer ()
Driver: Nicholas Graffam
Prize Money: $502,994
Win / Place: 20% / 45%

Dominant Win Last Start

7 yo Bay Horse

Sire: E L TITAN (USA)

Dam: MISS FLAGGY MEADOW

100

Rating

Stats

Career

73: 15-14-4

Distance

73: 15-14-4

Trk/Dst

62: 14-10-4

Track

62: 14-10-4

Season

3: 1-0-0

1st Up

5: 0-1-0

2nd Up

5: 2-0-0

3rd Up

5: 2-0-0

Metro

2: 0-0-0

Non-Metro

71: 15-14-4

Mobile

0: 0-0-0

Standing

0: 0-0-0

All-Weather

73: 15-14-4

Slushy

0: 0-0-0

Grass

0: 0-0-0

Best Mile

1:53.40

Driver Stats

Gear Changes

Lasix,Trotting Hobbles

Comments

Last start won by 11 m (Fr4) at this track (1:55.10) beating Grateful in NW5000CD on May 12 at $2.50. No reason he cannot get the job done again.

Last Starts days since last start

Place	Date	Track	Distance	Start	Surface	Barrier	Driver	Race Time	Mile Rate	Margin	SP	Days	Class	Prize	Prize Won	Result
1st of 7	12/5/26	plainridge racecourse	1609m		All Weather	Fr4	Nicholas Graffam	1:55.10	1:55.10	11.3m	$2.50	8	NW5000CD	$16,760	$8,380	1. Bill Bauer 2. Grateful 3. Wendell Blue Chip
6th of 8	4/5/26	plainridge racecourse	1609m		All Weather	Fr8	Nicholas Graffam	1:56.20	1:56.20	21.0m	$7.40	11	NW5000CD	$16,760	-	1. Lava Field 2. Sunburnt Silverado 3. Wendell Blue Chip
1st of 4	28/4/26	plainridge racecourse	1609m			-	Nicholas Graffam	1:57.40	1:57.40	10.5m	$0.00	-	Trial	$0	-	1. Bill Bauer 2. Twoscoopsforjack 3. Kb's Sweet Six Pak
7th of 7	23/4/26	plainridge racecourse	1609m		All Weather	Fr4	Jay Randall	1:54.20	1:54.20	180.0m	$20	149	NW7500CD	$21,106	-	1. Bravado 2. Ponda Rocky 3. Pantofolaio
149 Day Spell
1st of 7	14/4/26	plainridge racecourse	1609m			-	Drew Monti	1:59.40	1:59.40	2.25m	$0.00	-	Trial	$0	-	1. Bill Bauer 2. Majestic Dutchess 3. Brewster Baker
6th of 6	25/11/25	plainridge racecourse	1609m		All Weather	Fr1	Nicholas Graffam	1:53.40	1:53.40	0.0m	$27	8	OPEN	$38,168	-	1. A New Leader 2. Platinum As 3. Memorynimagination

Ponda Rocky (Fr4) 43821x6218
Trainer: Mark Eaton ()
Driver: Kevin Switzer (Jnr)
Prize Money: $253,029
Win / Place: 23% / 60%

4 yo Brown Gelding

Sire: PASTOR STEPHEN (USA)

Dam: WILDFLOWER

Rating

Stats

Career

30: 7-8-3

Distance

30: 7-8-3

Trk/Dst

6: 2-2-0

Track

6: 2-2-0

Season

4: 1-1-0

1st Up

3: 2-0-0

2nd Up

3: 1-2-0

3rd Up

3: 1-1-0

Metro

0: 0-0-0

Non-Metro

30: 7-8-3

Mobile

0: 0-0-0

Standing

0: 0-0-0

All-Weather

30: 7-8-3

Slushy

0: 0-0-0

Grass

0: 0-0-0

Best Mile

1:53.00

Driver Stats

Gear Changes

Lasix

Comments

Failed to impress last start; 8th (Fr8) over 1609m at this track beaten 8 m by Sunburnt Silverado (1:55.10) in NW7500CD on May 11 at $3. Showed ability the run before when he posted a big 4.5 m win as favourite (Fr7) at this track (1:55.20) beating Cash Out Express in W4-7MLT on May 5 at $1.90. Well placed, should prove hard to beat.

Last Starts days since last start

Place	Date	Track	Distance	Start	Surface	Barrier	Driver	Race Time	Mile Rate	Margin	SP	Days	Class	Prize	Prize Won	Result
8th of 8	11/5/26	plainridge racecourse	1609m		All Weather	Fr8	Nicholas Graffam	1:55.10	1:55.10	8.3m	$3.00f	6	NW7500CD	$23,743	-	1. Sunburnt Silverado 2. Dryden Hanover 3. Snowman Hanover
1st of 9	5/5/26	plainridge racecourse	1609m		All Weather	Fr7	Nicholas Graffam	1:55.20	1:55.20	4.5m	$1.90f	12	W4-7MLT	$23,743	$11,872	1. Ponda Rocky 2. Cash Out Express 3. Pantofolaio
2nd of 7	23/4/26	plainridge racecourse	1609m		All Weather	Fr5	Nicholas Graffam	1:54.20	1:54.20	1.5m	$2.20f	7	NW7500CD	$21,106	$5,277	1. Bravado 2. Ponda Rocky 3. Pantofolaio
6th of 8	16/4/26	plainridge racecourse	1609m		All Weather	Fr8	Brad Irvine	1:55.10	1:55.10	18.0m	$20	142	NW10000CD	$24,745	-	1. Stormont Divide 2. Rose Run Xtra 3. Grateful
142 Day Spell
1st of 5	6/4/26	plainridge racecourse	1609m			-	Kristian Andersen	1:58.40	1:58.40	7.5m	$0.00	-	Trial	$0	-	1. Ponda Rocky 2. Balenciaga 3. Bella's Love
1st of 8	25/11/25	plainridge racecourse	1609m		All Weather	Fr1	Nicholas Graffam	1:55.00	1:55.00	28.5m	$1.20f	8	W2-5PMLT	$26,718	$13,359	1. Ponda Rocky 2. Energetic Julio 3. Sangria Girl

Grateful (Fr5) 24475x3642
Trainer: Mario Dessureault ()
Driver: Mitchell Cushing
Prize Money: $166,343
Win / Place: 4.55% / 29%

7 yo Brown Gelding

Sire: TRIUMPHANT CAVIAR (USA)

Dam: BEAUTIFUL

Rating

Stats

Career

88: 4-16-6

Distance

88: 4-16-6

Trk/Dst

24: 3-6-2

Track

24: 3-6-2

Season

4: 0-1-1

1st Up

5: 0-0-1

2nd Up

3: 0-0-0

3rd Up

2: 0-0-1

Metro

2: 0-2-0

Non-Metro

86: 4-14-6

Mobile

0: 0-0-0

Standing

0: 0-0-0

All-Weather

88: 4-16-6

Slushy

0: 0-0-0

Grass

0: 0-0-0

Best Mile

1:54.00

Driver Stats

Gear Changes

Lasix,Trotting Hobbles

Comments

Seven-year-old gelding showed improvement last start. 2nd (Fr1) over 1609m at this track, beaten 11 m by Bill Bauer (1:55.10) in NW5000CD on May 12 at $1.60. The run before was not as impressive when beaten by 7 m finishing fourth behind Mocha Java at this track over 1609m in a NW7500CD on May 4 at $12.90. Form reads okay, but out of his depth.

Last Starts days since last start

Place	Date	Track	Distance	Start	Surface	Barrier	Driver	Race Time	Mile Rate	Margin	SP	Days	Class	Prize	Prize Won	Result
2nd of 7	12/5/26	plainridge racecourse	1609m		All Weather	Fr1	Mitchell Cushing	1:55.10	1:55.10	11.3m	$1.60f	8	NW5000CD	$16,760	$4,190	1. Bill Bauer 2. Grateful 3. Wendell Blue Chip
4th of 8	4/5/26	plainridge racecourse	1609m		All Weather	Fr6	Mitchell Cushing	1:55.20	1:55.20	7.5m	$13	11	NW7500CD	$23,743	$1,899	1. Mocha Java 2. Balenciaga 3. Stamped By Lindy
6th of 7	23/4/26	plainridge racecourse	1609m		All Weather	Fr7	Aaron Byron	1:54.20	1:54.20	80.3m	$30	7	NW7500CD	$21,106	-	1. Bravado 2. Ponda Rocky 3. Pantofolaio
3rd of 8	16/4/26	plainridge racecourse	1609m		All Weather	Fr6	Mitchell Cushing	1:55.10	1:55.10	13.5m	$6.00	150	NW10000CD	$24,745	$2,969	1. Stormont Divide 2. Rose Run Xtra 3. Grateful
150 Day Spell
5th of 6	17/11/25	plainridge racecourse	1609m		All Weather	Fr6	Mitchell Cushing	1:56.40	1:56.40	24.8m	$25	7	NW10000CD	$30,534	$1,527	1. Super Duper Cooper 2. Deadline Hall 3. Sea Can
7th of 8	10/11/25	plainridge racecourse	1609m		All Weather	Fr1	David Ingraham	1:53.40	1:53.40	23.3m	$52	7	OPEN	$38,168	-	1. Pepper Wow 2. Memorynimagination 3. Sforza

Ice Breakers K (Fr6) 4642635714
Trainer: Edwin Quevedo ()
Driver: Bruce Ranger
Prize Money: $353,335
Win / Place: 9.72% / 45%

7 yo Brown Gelding

Sire: WINNING MISTER

Dam: WINTER STAR

Rating

Stats

Career

144: 14-27-24

Distance

143: 14-27-24

Trk/Dst

0: 0-0-0

Track

0: 0-0-0

Season

16: 1-2-3

1st Up

2: 0-0-0

2nd Up

2: 1-0-0

3rd Up

2: 0-0-0

Metro

31: 3-4-4

Non-Metro

113: 11-23-20

Mobile

0: 0-0-0

Standing

0: 0-0-0

All-Weather

144: 14-27-24

Slushy

0: 0-0-0

Grass

0: 0-0-0

Best Mile

1:54.30

Driver Stats

Gear Changes

Lasix,Trotting Hobbles

Comments

Last start 4th (Fr5) over 1609m at Saratoga, beaten 4.5 m by Ikon Vang (1:59.10) in NW7500L5CD on May 11 at $10.25. Two runs back won by 3 m as favourite (Fr2) at Saratoga (1:58.40) beating Refiner in NW5000L5CD on May 4 at $2.27. Likely to struggle.

Last Starts days since last start

Place	Date	Track	Distance	Start	Surface	Barrier	Driver	Race Time	Mile Rate	Margin	SP	Days	Class	Prize	Prize Won	Result
4th of 8	11/5/26	Saratoga	1609m		All Weather	Fr5	Wally Hennessey	1:59.10	1:59.10	4.5m	$10	7	NW7500L5CD	$18,156	$1,453	1. Ikon Vang 2. Full Scale 3. Internationalcraze
1st of 8	4/5/26	Saratoga	1609m		All Weather	Fr2	Wally Hennessey	1:58.40	1:58.40	3.0m	$2.27f	7	NW5000L5CD	$12,570	$6,285	1. Ice Breakers K 2. Refiner 3. Powerscourt
7th of 7	27/4/26	Saratoga	1609m		All Weather	Fr7	Wally Hennessey	1:55.40	1:55.40	16.5m	$84	7	NW7500L4CD	$17,467	-	1. Ordained 2. Osodevious 3. Jeffery J
5th of 7	20/4/26	Saratoga	1609m		All Weather	Fr1	Justin Huckabone	1:57.40	1:57.40	15.0m	$20	7	WO/OPENHCP	$24,017	$1,201	1. But Why 2. Malibu Kid 3. Dewey Arnold
3rd of 8	13/4/26	Saratoga	1609m		All Weather	Fr4	Justin Huckabone	1:57.30	1:57.30	3.8m	$9.16	11	NW7500L5CD	$17,467	$2,096	1. Milliondollardream 2. National Love As 3. Ice Breakers K
6th of 7	2/4/26	Yonkers Raceway	1609m		All Weather	Fr1	Ridge Warren	1:57.00	1:57.00	31.5m	$28	13	40000CLM	$29,112	-	1. Wheelzablazin 2. Bo Silas 3. Energy King

Race Review Abbreviations

Brk: Broke, Blkd: Blocked or held up, 1 x 1: One-out, one-back, Prkd: Parked, 3bk otr: 3 back on the outer, 3bk inr: Same as above, but on the inside, trld: Trailed, Gt spd: Showed gate speed, 3wd: 3-wide postd: Caught wide without cover, Held up: Held up, no gaps or few gaps: If they don't see any clear air in the straight, Inr-mid-wd -position: On the inside, mid = 1-off, wd = 3-wide or wider, flew hm wd: Flew home wide, dashd inr: Sprinted well on the inside, Chkd: Checked, Slow: Slow away at the start, Wltd: Wilted or got tired, Fdd: Faded late, Urgd: If the driver is getting stuck in

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