Track record holder Vintage Cheddar N won the featured $34,247 Open Pace feature at Plainridge Park on Monday, Aug. 11, posting his third sub-1:50 victory in his last four starts.

Vintage Cheddar N (Shawn Gray) got away fifth as Taipo N (Bruce Ranger) and Pirate Hanover (Aaron Byron) argued for the lead while moving through the :26 first quarter. Pirate Hanover eventually gained control and led the pack past the half in :54 and up the backside to three-quarters in 1:21.2. Vintage Cheddar N, after pulling near the midway point, incrementally advanced towards Pirate Hanover before engaging him on the final turn. Vintage Cheddar N took the lead at the top of the stretch and then powered home under a confident handling to win by 1-1/4 lengths in 1:49.3. Two Fold Cold (David Ingraham) closed to take second over Taipo N.

Vintage Cheddar N ($3.40) is owned by his trainer, Amanda Kelley, in partnership with VIP Internet Stable LLC. The 10-year-old Betterthancheddar-Howfarnow gelding has visited the winner's circle five times this season in 15 starts. He broke the track record for an aged pacing gelding twice last month, first setting a mark of 1:49 on July 3 before lowering it to 1:48.3 on Spirit of Massachusetts Day. He is 27-for-92 lifetime.

There were also a pair of $27,397 upper-level conditioned paces on the card.

In the first, Warrawee Yale (Nick Graffam) put up splits of :27.1, :55.2, and 1:22.1 before opening up by 3-1/4 lengths and stopping the clock in a lifetime-best 1:50. Cranbourne N (Ranger) was second over Naturally Gifted A (Matt Athearn). Warrawee Yale ($19.60), a Captaintreacherous-Queen Fourteen gelding, is owned and trained by Gerald MacKenzie Jr.

The second sub-feature went to Instant Replay (Drew Campbell) who sat second behind General Montana N (Shawn Gray) through fractions of :26.4, :55.1 and 1:23.2. Coming off the last turn, Campbell tipped Instant Replay out, and the Lazarus N-Ashlees Sport gelding paced by General Montana N to win by three-quarters of a length in 1:51.2, which was a new lifetime mark. Sundown Kid (Byron) completed the triactor. Instant Replay ($15.40) is owned by Jason Vafiades and trained by Kimberly Vafiades.

Drivers Graffam and Gray both scored hat tricks on Monday, while 11 different trainers each won one race on the program.

Live racing will resume at Plainridge Park on Tuesday at 4 p.m. with a $2,474 carryover in the Wicked Hi-5 pentafecta in race six. 

(With files from Plainridge Park)