The classy four-year-old trotting mare Queen Of All visited Plainridge Park on July 22 and strode off the screen with an impressive 1:53.3 performance in the top trot. After five starts that included two wins at Yonkers, she returned to Massachusetts to once again claim victory in the $20,000 Open Handicap Trot at Plainridge Park on Thursday afternoon (Sept. 8).
Brett Beckwith blasted off the gate with Queen Of All and opened a two-length advantage at the :27.1 first quarter. With Remember Titans tracking from the pocket, Queen Of All trotted to the half in :56 and got halfway up the backside before Raybarnz mounted an attack that got him as far as second. That bid fell apart in the far turn and Queen Of All was clear by two lengths once again. As they came off the bend and trotted down the lane, Remember Titans tipped and tried to advance on the leader. But Queen Of All would have none of it and finished with no urging from Beckwith to win by a half length in 1:53.4.
Dismissed at 5-2 after just winning the $39,000 Open Trot at Yonkers, Queen Of All ($7.00) won her third race in a row and ninth of the year. She also went over the $400,000 mark lifetime, now with $402,325 in only 58 starts for owner William Hartt. Lance Hudson trains the winner.
Beckwith ended the day with two driving wins.
A pair Massachusetts-bred trotters also highlighted the card on Thursday, scoring wins and taking marks and both for the same connections.
In the co-featured $15,000 conditioned trot, Billy B followed the cover of Muscle Gene at the half in chase of the front-stepping No Time To Play. The leader held tough until the top of the stretch, where Muscle Gene took control. But then Muscle Gene was also caught by Billy B, who trotted up a storm in the lane to win by a half length in 1:56.1, a career best.
Billy B is owned by Joel Wheeler and trained by Lisa Watson. Wally Watson drove the $12 winner.
Watson, Watson and Wheeler also teamed in the $7,500 maiden condition trot to win with the three-year-old filly Moms Cash, who grabbed the lead past the quarter and then dominated the field with a four-length victory in a lifetime-best 1:59.3 to return $3.20. Moms Cash will be competing in the lucrative Massachusetts Sire Stakes that start on Sunday (Sept. 25) at Plainridge Park.
Other horsepeople with two wins on Thursday included drivers Bruce Ranger and Kevin Switzer Jr. and trainer Elisha Lafreniere.
Live racing resumes at Plainridge Park on Monday afternoon (Sept. 12) with post time at 2 p.m. (EDT).
(Plainridge Park)