Shesjustadelight N was one of the stars of Yonkers Bluechip Matchmaker Free-For-All series earlier this year after winning two legs and making the final. With a freshening month off, she’s back and rolling with a second last week in the mares Open at Yonkers and now scoring a win in the $12,000 filly and mares Open Handicap at Plainridge Park on Tuesday afternoon.
Shesjustadelight N (Ron Cushing) left best at the start and took a lead she would not relinquish. With the remainder of the scratch-shortened field in post-position order behind her, Shesjustadelight N flashed a quick :26.4 quarter, but then backed off the middle half to :58.2.
As the pace slowed during that time, Better Said (Shawn Gray) rushed up on the outside and got within one-length of the leader around the final turn. But with a mere tap, Cushing alerted his mare it was time to go and she responded by gapping two lengths immediately. Then under mild urging down the lane, Shesjustadelight N cruised home to an easy two-length win in 1:52.3, which was a new seasonal mark.
It was the third win in 11 starts this year for Shesjustadelight N ($2.60) and today’s effort boosted her 2017 earnings to $99,640 for owners Kevin Sywyk and Ron Cushing. Heidi Gibbs trains the winner.
Since being imported from New Zealand in August of 2016, Shesjustadelight N has won 15 of 23 starts (including a perfect 12 for 12 last year) and has made $180,640 as a result of her efforts.
In the $10,000 distaff co-feature, Verry Well Pretty (Eddie Davis, Jr.) put in an impressive performance, winning off a first-over trip and posting a new lifetime mark of 1:53.1. It was the fourth win in 10 starts for the five-year-old daughter of Well Said who returned $15.80 to her backers. Verry Well Pretty is owned by William Phipps and is trained by Adam Gray.
Plainridge Park’s leading driver was at it again. Greg Merton won five more races on Tuesday, pushing his total for the meet to 73. He scored with Boston Bay ($41.80, 1:55.2), Toe Tag ($4.00, 1:56.3), Olivias Z Tam ($15.40, 1:54.2), See To Believe ($2.60, 1:53.1) and UF Dragons Hanover ($3.40, 1:54).
Last year, Merton set a track record for most wins in a year by posting 229 victories. At his current rate of success, Merton could easily shatter that mark by the end of the meet as he is currently on pace for 292 wins.
Live racing resumes at Plainridge Park on Thursday, June 15 with the first post set for 4 p.m.
(Standardbred Owners of Massachusetts)