Racey Rach N (Mitchell Cushing) took full advantage of a perfect trip to cash in the win in the $25,000 Winners-Over Pace for fillies and mares at Plainridge Park on Thursday afternoon (Oct. 19).
Wahs Fire Bug N (Kevin Switzer Jr.) took the lead at the eighth pole while Racey Rach N settled into the garden spot for the duration of the mile. Wahs Fire Bug N proceeded to set fractions of :26.3, :55.2 and 1:23 with no pressure from behind. That was until half-way through the last turn when Cushing tipped Racey Rach N off the pegs and took dead aim at the leader. Wahs Fire Bug N held her ground for a bit as they paced for the wire, but Racey Rach N was a little faster to the line and won by three-quarters of a length in 1:52.
The fifth win of the year for Racey Rach N ($9.80) pushed her 2023 earnings to $107,270 for the benefit of her owners Burke Racing Stable, Weaver Bruscemi and Scott Dillon. Joe Nelson trains the winner.
In the secondary featured $22,500 upper-level conditioned pace, Nineteenth Man A (Ron Cushing) got away sixth as Uncattouchthis (Brett Beckwith) hit the half in :54.2. But he was soon out third-over in an outer flow led by Alex Having fun (Bruce Ranger), who was bearing down on the leader. Alex Having Fun cleared in the last turn and Nineteenth Man A went three-wide around the stalled Bag Pipe Major (Nick Graffam) and was revved up heading into the lane. Despite having two lengths to make up in the stretch, Nineteenth Man A got home under a line drive to win by 1-1/4 lengths in 1:51.2.
Nineteenth Man A ($4.80) is owned by his driver Cushing along with Kevin Sywyk and Lance Downs. Heidi Cushing trains the winner.
There was a huge win mutuel paid out in the final race of the day after Checkpoint Chatter (Drew Campbell) tipped three-wide from ninth at three-quarters and swooped the entire field in the final quarter to win by 1-1/4 lengths in 1:54.3 at 55-1.
It was the seventh win of the year for the Don Guidette Jr.-trained and Upland Farm-owned Checkpoint Chatter, who paid $112.40 for a $2 wager.
Kevin Switzer Jr. and Mike Stevenson each had two driving wins on Thursday while Alison Hynes topped all trainers with a double as well.
Live racing will resume at Plainridge Park on Friday, Oct. 20 at 2 p.m. and there will be a $48,045 carryover in the Wicked Hi-5 pentafecta wager in race six.
The $1.2 million finals of the Massachusetts Sire Stakes will be held on Tuesday, Oct. 24 when eight divisions worth $150,000 each will go postward. 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.
(Standardbred Owners of Massachusetts)