After a win and a second in the top pacing class at Saratoga Raceway, Artful Way tried that same level at Plainridge last week and fell short in a gallant closing brush. This week he would not be denied after putting in a gutsy effort to win the $15,000 Winners-Over featured pace at Plainridge Park on Monday afternoon.
Artful Way (Jay Randall) got away third in the short but select field of five as Some Waratah A (Greg Merton) was the commander of fractions. The race proceeded in single file past the first two stations in :27.2 and :57.1 before Rock Diamonds N (Ron Cushing) pulled from last and flushed Artful Way for cover.
Artful Way soon found himself pacing besides Some Waratah A past three-quarters as the entire field was bunched within three lengths of each other. Rounding the last turn, Some Waratah A maintained a slight advantage over Artful Way but heading into the stretch, they became deadlocked. The pair paced in step all the way to the wire where only a photo could determine that Artful Way was a nose in front at the beam and won in 1:52.1.
It was the 62nd career victory for Artful Way ($8.20) and the winner’s share boosted his bankroll to $673,723 lifetime. The 9-year-old altered son of Artistic Fella-Art Debut is owned by the Kellogg Racing Stables and is trained by Jackie Greene.
In the co-featured $15,000 pace for five-year-olds and under horses and geldings, Spatterdash (Mike Stevenson) sat second for most of the race and eventually tracked No Quarter (Greg Merton) to the top of the stretch where Stevenson tipped him. Spatterdash got in gear and paced right by No Quarter to win by three-quarters of a length in 1:52.4, matching his season's mark of last week.
It was the second win in a row in only two 2021 starts for Spatterdash ($6.40) and owner/trainer Ralph Andersen.
Drivers Nick Graffam, Shawn Gray and Drew Monti all had two winners on Monday.
Racing resumes at Plainridge Park on Thursday (April 22) with post time at 4 p.m.
(Standardbred Owners of Massachusetts)