A pair of Grand Circuit events were the highlight of the Monday afternoon (Oct. 9) card at Plainridge Park and both the Reynolds Stakes and Colonial Trot produced some impressive winners.
The $123,000 Reynolds Stakes for three-year-old pacers went in two divisions separated by gender, as the $61,550 Tar Heel for colts and geldings and the $61,450 Leta Long for fillies.
The boys went first and Just Bet It All (Betting Line-Just Fine) lived up to his morning line billing after he engineered an easy gate-to-wire victory.
Matty Athearn sent Just Bet It All to the front and kept the field chasing through quarters of :26.2, :55 and 1:23.3. As the group paced past three-quarters, Rooster Bennett (Nick Graffam) tipped from third around the pocket-sitting Tack Room Chatter (Marcus Miller) to try and make up ground. But Just Bet It All had another gear and he used it to rebuff the challenge and cruise home on top by 2-1/4 lengths in 1:51.4, missing his lifetime mark by only one-fifth of a second.
Just Bet It All ($2.40) registered his second win of the year and it bumped his bankroll to $105,523 for owners Zippett Racing Stable, Evan Katz and Amos Lengacher. Per Engblom trains Just Bet It All, who was bred at the Concord Stud Farm.
Athearn put on a driving clinic Monday, winning a total of five of the eight races he was carded in.
The girls went next and a mild upset occurred when Sweet Cheyanne (Huntsville-Ever After) flew home to collar the favoured Racin Hungry.
Beltara (Jonathan Roberts) was the early leader, but Silky Stride (Bruce Ranger) pulled the pocket past three-eighths and took command in front of the stands. At the same time an outer flow had formed leaving Sweet Cheyanne (Marcus Miller) locked in fourth on the pylons and losing ground as a result and by three-quarters, she was seventh and looking bleak. At the top of the last turn, Racin Hungry (Matty Athearn) swung three-deep, leaving some room for Miller to pull Sweet Cheyanne off the cones and they both moved into the center of the track. With Silky Stride still on top, Racin Hungry charged forward and took the lead in deep stretch. But Sweet Cheyanne was right alongside and caught Racin Hungry at the line to win by three-quarters of a length in 1:52.2.
The sixth win of the year for Sweet Cheyanne ($10.60) abd pushed her earnings to $110,860 for owner Douglas Overhiser. Erv Miller trains Sweet Cheyanne, who was bred by Steve Jones.
Finally, the $51,100 Colonial Trot for three-year-old fillies was won by Call Me Goo (Googoo Gaagaa-Callmemza), who toured the facility in dominating fashion.
Jonathan Roberts wasted no time getting Call Me Goo to the front and incrementally extended her lead as the race progressed. After getting to the half in :57.2 with Usosweet Blue Chip (Marcus Miller) drafting second, Call Me Goo opened up a two-length gap at three-quarters before heading into the last turn. When they reached the head of the stretch, Call Me Goo kicked away and opened up six lengths on the group, winning in 1:54.1.
Increasing her earnings to an impressive $202,060 for the Graham Grace Stables, Call Me Goo ($4) notched her ninth win of 2023. Jason Skinner trains Call Me Goo, who was bred by Bob Roberts.
Live harness racing will resume at Plainridge Park on Tuesday, Oct. 10 at 2 p.m. and there will be a $29,878 carryover in the Wicked Hi-5 pentafecta wager in race six.
(With files from Plainridge Park)