Following fast fractions and live cover on a humid afternoon that hit 92 degrees, Quick Shot beat the heat, an outside post and six rivals in taking the $16,000 Winners-Over Handicap feature pace at Plainridge Park on Monday afternoon.
BJs Guy (Eddie Davis) left with authority and sped the field to the quarter in :25.2. With no one feeling frisky enough to pull into that fraction heading to the half, Drew Campbell stepped up and pulled Quick Shot from fifth and eventually flushed Vegas Dream (David Ingraham) who then escorted him up the backside.
As the group tripped three-quarters in 1:22.2, BJs Guy succumbed to the pace while Vegas Dream, Quick Shot and Soho Jackman A (Chris Long) were flying three-wide and pacing in unison around the last turn . Vegas Dream had the lead in the pylon path but was passed in short order by Quick Shot and Soho Jackman A who were now both set to battle down the lane. Quick Shot gained a small advantage and despite the best effort of Soho Jackman A, he could not get by the classy Quick Shot in the stretch and he won by a length in 1:51, which tied his season’s best outing of last week.
It was the sixth win of the year for Quick Shot ($4.20) who has now earned $59,860 for owner Kathleen Brewer. The six-year-old gelded son of Art Major is trained by John Bowman.
The $12,500 final of the “2007 Sox” $10,000 claiming series was won by Sports Lightning (Mitchell Cushing) who pulled just past the quarter and toughed-out a first over trip to overtake the front-running Dr C Z Tam (Greg Merton) in the stretch and win by a length in 1:52.3, which was a new seasonal mark.
Sports Lightning ($4.20) is owned by William Emmons and is trained by Jim Nickerson.
Drew Campbell led all drivers with three wins on the card while Mitchell Cushing and Nick Graffam had two wins apiece.
Racing resumes at Plainridge Park on Tuesday with post time at 4 p.m.
(Standardbred Owners of Massachusetts)