Ron Cushing won the $20,000 upper-level conditioned pace with his newest stable member Alta Classic A on a Thursday (Oct. 12) afternoon card at Plainridge Park where father and son drivers Ron Cushing and Mitchell Cushing dominated the action, accounting for five wins during the card.
Alta Classic A got away third while fellow Aussie Torrid Saint A (Matty Athearn) led the field to the half in :56.1. Cushing was out and rolling with Alta Classic A at that point and drew alongside the leader at the five-eighths. Torrid Saint A and Alta Classic A then matched strides up the backstretch, around the last turn and into the stretch with neither getting an advantage. But as they got into deep stretch, Alta Classic A finally forged ahead and won by one-half length over the late closing Just A Little Bit A (Nick Graffam) in 1:51.4, which was a second consecutive lifetime mark.
Alta Classic A ($5.60) is now two-for-two in the northern hemisphere for Ron Cushing, who co-owns the gelding with Kevin Sywyk. Heidi Cushing trains the winner.
Mitchell Cushing brought the other four winners back for pictures as he led all drivers on Thursday with a grand slam. He won with Buerger (1:55.2, $29.80), Bettor Option (1:53.3, $3.80), Wainapedia (1:53.4, $8.60) and Miki U So Fine (1:53, $7), who won the nightcap co-featured $20,000 District 9 Pace for owner/trainer Domenic Longobardi.
Live harness racing will resume at Plainridge Park on Friday, Oct. 13 at 2 p.m. and there will be a $35,603 carryover in the Wicked Hi-5 pentafecta wager in race six.
The Massachusetts Sire Stakes will reconvene at Plainridge Park on Monday, Oct. 16 at 2 p.m. when the third leg of two-year-olds will go postward. The three-year-olds will go on Tuesday, Oct. 17 and the finals for both age groups will be held on Tuesday, Oct. 24. Horsepeople are reminded there will be a detention barn for the finals and all horses must be checked into the stable area at Plainridge Park no later than 8 p.m. on Monday, Oct. 23.
(With files from Plainridge Park)