Booraa Posts Career Best At Plainridge
Under a line drive for most of the mile, Booraa N scored an impressive gate to wire victory with the mile of her life in the $25,000 Winners-Over Pace for fillies and mares at Plainridge Park on Tuesday afternoon (May 23).
Ron Cushing pushed Booraa N off the gate and to the lead while seating Adashious Hanover in the process. After solid early splits of :26.3 and :55.3, Milieu Hanover was the first to pull and moved quickly from fifth to second on the back straight. As they headed into the last turn, Milieu Hanover could not get closer than a length to the leader and that emboldened Booraa N, who swelled up down the lane and bolted in for a 3-1/4 length victory in 1:51.3, giving her a new lifetime mark.
It was the third win in only four North American starts for Booraa N, who is owned by her driver Cushing along with Kevin Sywyk. Heidi Gibbs was the successful conditioner. She paid $4 to win.
In the secondary featured $17,500 pace also listed for fillies and mares, Roses N Wine drafted fourth as Toodles Hanover and A List Girl battled in fast early fractions. Then as the field tightened at the five-eighths, The Gypsy Queen IR came first over and Graffam tipped Roses N Wine for the cover. The top five were tight around the final bend but at the top of the stretch, The Gypsy Queen IR and Roses N Wine took off by themselves and battled all the way to the line where Roses N Wine got a narrow head advantage and won in 1:52.3, which was a new lifetime mark for the winner.
It was the third straight win and fourth out of the last five since coming to Plainridge Park for Roses N Wine, who is owned by John Di Antonio and trained by Bob Marston. It was also the second win of the day for Graffam. The mare paid $46.20 to win.
Kevin Switzer Jr. drove three horses to victory on Tuesday, two of which were trained by Elisha Lafreniere.
Live harness racing will resume at Plainridge Park on Thursday, May 25 at 4 p.m. (EDT) and there will be a $1,915 carryover in the Jackpot Wicked Hi-5 pentafecta in Race 6.
(Plainridge Park)