After finishing third and second in her first two outings at Plainridge Park, Meadows transplant Show Runner made three moves en route to claiming her first victory in the Bay State in the $16,000 Fillies and Mares Winners-Over Handicap Pace on Tuesday afternoon (June 26).

The outside posts got away best as Tempus Seelster (Greg Merton) took the lead from post seven, seating Western Stepp (Drew Campbell), who also left from post eight. Show Runner (Shawn Gray), who got away third, was not deterred by the :26.2 first panel and pulled to go up for the lead. Tempus Seelster tried to prevent her from clearing but Show Runner took over by the three-eighths. The lead only lasted for a few strides as Merton asked Tempus Seelster once again, and she retook by the half in a quick :54.2. As soon as the dust had settled from that move, Campbell made his move from third with Western Stepp and got to the front midway up the backstretch.

Western Stepp proceeded to open up a three-length advantage at the three-quarter pole while Show Runner was suddenly locked in fifth, at least six lengths off the pace. With the gap widening, Gray was able to regroup and get Show Runner off the pylons around a fading horse and then ducked back down low around the far turn. At the top of the lane, Western Stepp still held a two-length margin but Gray saw the pylon lane part like the Red Sea and got Show Runner in gear. From there, the mare out-paced three other closing horses and caught the leader to win by a neck in a five-horse photo in 1:52.3.

It was the 57th lifetime win for Show Runner ($3.00) and it put the California-bred eight-year-old mare’s bankroll at $522,791 for her career. Show Runner is owned by A Piece of the Action Stable and is trained by Eric Beach.

Mitchell Cushing was at it again Tuesday, bringing home yet another longshot in the afternoon’s first race. In the “2008 Celts” $10,000 claiming series, Cushing sat third with Freetime behind the favoured Empty Gesture (Shawn Gray) and Spilling The Beans (Greg Merton) for almost three-quarters of the mile before pulling into the last turn and drawing alongside Empty Gesture. From there, a highly animated Cushing urged his mare to the front and the pair cruised to a two-length victory in 1:52.3 at 34-1.

The winning time was a new seasonal mark for Freetime ($71.20) and only one-fifth off her lifetime mark taken at Plainridge Park two years ago. Freetime is owned and trained by Mike Cushing.

Mitchell Cushing is currently sixth in the driver’s dash win standings for the current meet with 20 victories out of 134 starts and has a 79% return on investment rating, which is an amazing number based on the large number of starts.

Racing resumes at Plainridge Park on Thursday afternoon (June 28) with post time set for 4 p.m.

(Plainridge Park)