Classy campaigner Quick Shot continued on pace for a career year by following live cover to a hard-fought victory in the $14,000 'Plainridge Special' pacing feature at Plainridge Park on Monday afternoon.
Hes Marvelous (Nick Graffam) took the lead and smoked the first quarter in :26.3. In front of the grandstand, Rooster Rabbit (Mike Eaton) pulled first up with Quick Shot (Chris Long) right on his back. From there, everyone kept the same positions past the half and to the three-quarters in 1:22.4.
Midway through the final turn Quick Shot tipped three-deep and by the top of the lane the three horses were strung across the track. Hes Marvelous bowed-out and that left Rooster Rabbit and Quick Shot who then separated from the field. Pacing stride for stride, the two battled all the way down the stretch with Quick Shot getting up in the shadow of the wire to win by a head in 1:51.3.
It was the fifth win of the year for Quick Shot ($7.80) who now boasts $66,483 in earnings for lessee/trainer John Bowman.
In the $10,000 co-featured pace, My Mind Is Made Up (Greg Merton) trailed by 10 lengths in a :25.4 first panel before pulling first-over at the three-eighths to out-duel Grand Galop Semalu (Steve Nason) for the lead at the top of the lane and then hold off SB Mikes Hot Beach (Shawn Gray) in deep stretch to win in 1:50.4.
It was the third win of the year and a new lifetime mark for My Mind Is Made Up ($6.40) who is owned by the Jesmeral Stable and trained by Monique Cohen.
Race Secretary Paul Verrette has started writing special condition races for Massachusetts bred horses making their first starts of the year in advance of the Massachusetts Sire Stakes (MASS) that begin later this month on Monday (Sept. 25).
Today’s first race featured two- and three-year-old MASS eligible pacers and Twelve (Shady Character-Sabine Hanover) went gate to wire in 1:57.4 with a snappy :28.4 last quarter for trainer/driver Eddie Davis, Jr. Twelve ($5.40) was bred by and is owned by Dean Malin.
Im A Clown (Im Gorgeous-Lordy Miss Scarlet) was second and Tanzanite Love (Im Gorgeous-Love Rocks) was third.
Greg Merton tacked on three more wins to his gaudy total for the year (176) while trainers Monique Cohen and Joe Nelson each had to stable victories.
Racing resumes at Plainridge Park on Tuesday with post time at 2:30 p.m.
(Standardbred Owners of Massachusetts)