After being narrowly defeated in the preliminary round, Avery Seelster bounced back with a statement victory in the $20,000 Freedom Trail series final for resident pacing mares at Plainridge Park on Thursday afternoon after a deluge of rain delayed the races for almost 30 minutes.

Trainer/driver John Nason got away fourth from the pylons and stood pat until just past the :26.4 quarter where he pulled first-over and marched towards the front-running Go Sandy Go (Nick Graffam).

Avery Seelster hung third in the breeze until midway up the backstretch when the mare switched gears, advanced to the front and opened up a four length advantage. From there, Nason just kept her interested and she cruised home in 1:53 over the off track, equalling her lifetime mark.

Avery Seelster ($7.40) is owned by Katharine Nason.

In the weekly $14,000 Winners-Over pacing feature, Paternity Suit A (Drew Monti) went right for the lead and never looked back en route to a convincing victory. After going quarters of :27.1, :56.1 and 1:23.2, Paternity Suit A put separation between himself and the field while opening up an eight-length gap as he motored home to win in 1:51.1 in the slop. The time was a new lifetime mark.

It was the second straight win in two North American starts for Paternity Suit A ($3.80) who is owned by Tony Gruppo and Tim Bojarski. Scott Rollins trains the winner.

The Massachusetts-bred Rys Red Rocket (Matty “Ice” Athearn) won the fourth race in 1:52.2 and broke the track record for three-year-old pacing fillies set by Apple Bottom Jeans (1:52.3) in 2016. It was also a new lifetime mark for Rys Red Rocket ($4.60) who will compete later this year in the Massachusetts Sire Stakes at Plainridge. Gretchen Athearn trains the winner for owner Linwood Higgins.

Drew Monti, Matty "Ice" Athearn and Bruce Ranger all had two winners on the card Thursday.

Racing resumes at Plainridge Park on Friday (July 24) at 4 p.m. And on Sunday (July 26) the $250,000 Spirit of Massachusetts Trot and $100,000 Clara Barton Pace will be held at The Ridge with a 2 p.m. post.

(Standardbred Owners of Massachusetts)