After tripping out early, Dandys Evrlasting brushed late and finished strong to capture the $25,000 Fillies and Mares Winners-Over Pace at Plainridge Park on Tuesday afternoon (May 16).
Westbeach was the early leader before Booraa N pulled before the quarter and cleared in front of the stands. Booraa N then hit the half in a tepid :56.1 when Dandys Evrlasting made her bid from third.
As they made their way up the backstretch, Dandys Evrlasting drew alongside Booraa N at three-quarters and the two went at it from there. They matched strides around the last turn and into the lane. As they headed for the wire, Booraa N was still pacing strong as Dandys Evrlasting continued to dig. When they hit the line, it took a photo to show that Dandys Evrlasting was the best by a nose in the hard fought 1:51.4 mile.
It was the second straight win and fourth in the last six starts at Plainridge Park for Dandys Evrlasting, who is owned by Dandy Farms Racing and FT Racing. Jimmy Nickerson was the winning trainer. Matty Athearn drove the $7 winner.
Athearn and Nickerson both ended the day with two wins apiece.
There was also a pair of $17,500 paces for the six-year-old and under set.
The first went to Quarrel, who followed Toodles Hanover through quarters of :27, :56 and 1:24.2 before out-sprinting her to the line to win by 1-1/2 lengths in a lifetime-best 1:53 clocking. Quarrel is owned by Karma Racing and was the first of two training wins for Elisha Lafreniere. Kevin Switzer Jr. drove the $4.80 winner.
Later, the heavily favoured Duke Of Cornwall N floated outside for over three-eighths of a mile before he crossed over for the lead. But once he got there, the race was history. He sped to three-quarters in a :27.4 split and then under a line drive by Bruce Ranger, Duke Of Cornwall N cruised home to a 2-1/2 length win in 1:52.2. Duke Of Cornwall N is owned by Richard Pollucci and trained by Tahnee Camilleri. He paid $2.10 to win.
Kevin Switzer Jr. continued his torrid winning streak on Tuesday as he scored another grand slam in the bike. Besides the aforementioned Quarrel, Switzer also won with Captain Six (1:58.1 winning mile, $2.80 to win), Roses N Wine (1:54, $11.40) and Mossdale Lotte N (1:53.1, $4.40), the last two trained by Bob Marston. Overall, Switzer has driven a total 15 winners in his last five days of racing.
Trainer Mike Eaton also scored a double on Tuesday.
Live racing will resume at Plainridge Park on Thursday, May 18 at 4 p.m. (EDT) and that card will feature a $1,528 carryover in the Jackpot Wicked Hi-5 pentafecta in Race 6.
(Plainridge Park)