Khaosan Road sets track record in Bunker Hill Trot at Plainridge
By Tim Bojarski, for Plainridge Park (Tom Melanson photo)
Plainville, MA — Fresh off his victory in the $137,775 Dexter Cup just nine days ago, Khaosan Road (International Moni-Jewels In The Sand) came right back and captured the $100,000 Bunker Hill Trot in track record time at Plainridge Park on Monday afternoon (May 15).
Herodotus (David Miller) flew off the gate and opened up a quick two length lead before Scott Zeron and Khaosan Road came calling on the outside as they trotted by the quarter in a quick :27 flat. Khaosan Road cleared in front of the stands, but Miller was right back out with Herodotus and crossed over to retake the front before they hit the half. With the field in a loose lineup heading up the backside, Bright Expectation (Aaron Merriman) was the first to make a move and got to second in the breeze, locking Khaosan Road at the pegs.
As they headed into the last turn, Herodotus opened up another two length gap and as Bright Expectation faded, Khaosan Road had his opening and Inter Mischief (Kevin Switzer Jr.) followed right on his back. As they headed down the stretch, Herodotus still looked strong, but Khaosan Road was full of trot. Zeron gave him his head and then line-drove him to the wire to win by one length over the fast closing Inter Mischief and Spitfire Oversees (Anthony Macdonald) in 1:53.3. The time was a new lifetime mark for the winner and also a new Plainridge Park track record for 3-year-old trotting geldings.
Khaosan Road ($12.40) remains unbeaten this year and his second consecutive stake victory boosted his seasonal earnings to $118,887 for owners Knutsson Trotting and Little E. Ake Svanstedt trains the winner.
Svanstedt also remains unbeaten in the Bunker Hill Trot. He trained last year’s winner Jonas KS, who with his effort, set a new track record of 1:53 for 3-year-old trotting colts and also established the existing time standard for this stake.
The former track record for 3-year-old trotting geldings was 1:54 and it was both set and tied in 2021 by New Legacy and Blue Knight.
