It was ladies' day at Plainridge Park on Friday, Oct. 27 with filly and mare races topping the card and the winners of the top two events exhibited great late-season form.
In the $25,000 Winners-Over Handicap Pace, Therewasthisgirl (Nick Graffam) took no prisoners as she made her way to the sixth win of her year.
Racey Rach N (Mitchell Cushing) grabbed the first lead, but handed it off to Therewasthisgirl at the :27.2 quarter after she had floated up the outside from the start. Once on the point, Therewasthisgirl did not slow the pace as she passed the half in :55.3 and then three-quarters in 1:23.1 on the strength of a :27.3 split. It was there that La Bella Vita N (Shawn Gray) was moving up third in the breeze and making up substantial ground. At the top of the stretch, La Bella Vita N was only a length off and driving, but Therewasthisgirl stayed strong and held her off to the line and won by one-quarter length in 1:51.3.
Therewasthisgirl ($15.40) is owned by George Ducharme Stable and Heather Marshall. Mike Graffam was the winning trainer.
Earlier in the $17,500 upper-level conditioned pace for distaff side-wheelers, Checkpoint Chatter (Jim Hardy) made it two wins in a row and this time in a career-best time.
Checkpoint Chatter got away last in the short field of five while Booraa N (Ron Cushing) took a two-length lead to the half in a quick :54.4. An outer flow formed with Checkpoint Chatter racing third-over until three-quarters when she tipped three-deep around the other outsiders, this as Hilaria (Mike Stevenson) overtook Booraa N for the lead. At the top of the stretch, Checkpoint Chatter was third and still 2-1/2 lengths behind Hilaria, but she bolted for the wire and ended up 2-1/2 lengths in front, timed in a lifetime best 1:51.4.
Checkpoint Chatter ($10.20) is owned by Upland Farm and trained by Don Guidette Jr.
Hardy and Shawn Gray both had two driving wins while nine different trainers each won one race apiece.
(Standardbred Owners of Massachusetts; Photo of Therewasthisgirl in a previous win)