Seventimesavirgin, Campbell In Spotlight

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She hasn’t visited the winner’s circle since her first start here a month ago, but Seventimesavirgin got familiar with that area again after she won the $16,000 Winners-Over Handicap for fillies and mares at Plainridge Park on Wednesday afternoon (Sept. 19).

Seventimesavirgin (Shane Taggart) got away fourth as Western Stepp (Drew Campbell) and Shesjustadelight N (Mitchell Cushing) took turns at the lead by the quarter in :27.4. From there, Shesjustadelight N led the ladies past the half and to the three-quarters, where Taggart had Seventimesavirgin rolling on the outside and took over the race.

Seventimesavirgin went right by the leader in the final turn and when she got back to the pins, Taggart popped the plugs, tucked the whip and sat chilly while his mare paced home a wrapped-up winner by three lengths in 1:51.3.

It was the fourth win in 16 starts this year for Seventimesavirgin ($5.20), who now has $57,500 on the card for owner Jesse DeLong and trainer Jim Nickerson.

In the sub-featured $12,000 fillies and mares non-winners event, Stonebridge Honey (Drew Campbell) tripped out behind Our Royal Majesty (Wally Watson) until Campbell pulled her coming off the last turn, where she blew by the leader and drew off by three to win in 1:54.2.

It was the third win in the last four starts for Stonebridge Honey ($4.60), who is owned by Eric Prevost and trained by Elisha Lafreniere.

Plainridge Park’s leading dash driver Drew Campbell was as hot as this summer on Wednesday, winning five races at The Ridge. Campbell scored with Mias first Time (1:55, $4.20), Angel Or Terror (1:53, $3.00), Stonebridge Honey, Superbowl Party (1:52.3, $5.60) and Weddle By Weddle (1:54, $7.40).

Campbell drove in 11 races and never missed the board. With five wins, one second and five thirds, he posted a .657 Universal Driver Rating (UDR) for the day. Campbell continues to sit in first place now with 120 wins for the meet, ahead of Greg Merton (95), Shawn Gray (92) and Mitchell Cushing (72), who had a driving double on Wednesday.

Part of the reason Campbell had a big day was he was driving for trainer Elisha Lafreniere, whose barn was on a roll. Lafreniere sent three of her students to the winner’s circle including Stonebridge Honey, Angel Or Terror and Weddle By Weddle.

Racing resumes at Plainridge Park on Thursday (Sept. 20) with post time at 2 p.m.

(Standardbred Owners of Massachusetts)

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