The race never seemed in doubt for The Wild Card, who led from start to finish and won the $25,000 Winners-Over pacing feature at Plainridge Park on Thursday (Oct. 5), giving his driver Bruce Ranger a winning hand of three of a kind as it was his third consecutive victory in the bike behind him. 

The Wild Card had a two length lead at the :26.3 quarter and he maintained his advantage through the following panels of :55.1 and 1:23 with no imminent challenge from behind. The Wild Card continued to lead by three lengths coming off the final turn and was wrapped up in deep stretch while holding off a late charge from Heinikin Bythebay (Kevin Switzer Jr.) to win in 1:50.1. 

The fourth win of the year for The Wild Card ($4) pushed his 2023 earnings to $101,850 for owner Scott Dillon. Joe Nelson trains the winner. 

Earlier, Vintage Cheddar N (Brett Beckwith) won the $20,000 secondary featured pace after getting away last and trailing by 10 lengths at one point to the front-running Torrid Saint A (Matty Athearn). Just past the half, Beckwith pulled Vintage Cheddar N second-over behind Bad And Boujee (Drew Campbell) as they headed up the backstretch and then tipped three-deep around him in the last turn. Still four lengths off the leader, Vintage Cheddar N continued to pace his way into contention at the top of the stretch. Heading for the line, Im No Outlaw (Jay Randall) passed Torrid Saint A to take the lead but Vintage Cheddar N was in full flight and caught Im No Outlaw just before the light to win by a neck in 1:50.3, which was a new lifetime mark. 

Beckwith ended the day with a grand slam in the bike as he also won with White Belly (1:52.1, $28.20), Tack Room Chatter (1:51.4, $4.20) and Treacherous Tom (1:55.1, $5.00). 

In only four North American starts for Vintage Cheddar N ($6.80), it was the second win for the five-year-old gelding who is owned by S&K Misfit Stable, John Ball and VIP Internet Stable. Amanda Kelley does the conditioning. 

Live racing will resume at Plainridge Park on Friday (Oct. 6) at 2 p.m. and there will be a $24,306 carryover in the Wicked Hi-5 pentafecta wager in race six. Please note that Plainridge Park will continue live racing on Friday for the remainder of the meet.

(Standardbred Owners of Massachusetts)