A pair of Baystate Starter Allowances for pacers racing regularly at Plainridge Park were held on Tuesday, Sept. 16 at The Ridge during a beautiful late summer afternoon.

The second group went for $34,722, and Anvil Hands was late to the party but got the big prize.

Major Betts (Bruce Ranger) overpowered Er Griffin (Matty Athearn) for the point passing the :26 quarter and continued to lead to the half in :55, where Always A Miki (Brett Beckwith) came first-over to challenge. Always A Miki pushed to the front at three-quarters in 1:23.2 as Major Betts began to fade. But on Always A Miki’s back was Anvil Hands (Jim Hardy), who continued to follow around the turn until the race reached the stretch. Anvil Hands then tipped around Always A Miki and paced home clear by a length in 1:52. Always A Miki finished second over Er Griffin.

Anvil Hands ($6) is owned by David and Christine Thibault, in partnership with Hardy and Jolene Andrews. Andrews trains the six-year-old son of Always B Miki-Cams Macharena, a 22-time career winner in 105 starts.

In the $27,778 first division, Sundown Kid (Irvin Crews) and Sweet Street Lou (Nick Graffam) locked horns and battled side-by-side through splits of :26.1, :54.2 and 1:22.2 while P L Pasquale (Brett Beckwith) lied in wait in third. As the race entered the final turn, Beckwith tipped P L Pasquale into action and then three-deep around Sweet Street Lou, gaining the lead at the top of the stretch. From there, P L Pasquale paced home and won in a new lifetime mark of 1:51.3. He was a length clear of the closing Danger Zone (Drew Monti), followed by Big Plan Stan (Ranger).

P L Pasquale ($7.20) is owned and trained by Neal Grass. The six-year-old Thinking Out Loud - Pl Katnisseverdeen gelding has won 22 of 85 lifetime starts.

The Baystate Series is for pacing horses and geldings that have started for a purse of $16,000 ($17,500 for Massachusetts-owned horses) or less at least five times this meet.

Bruce Ranger had three driving wins on Tuesday, while 11 different trainers each won one race apiece.

Live racing will resume at Plainridge Park on Thursday at 2 p.m. with a $5,088 carryover in the Wicked Hi-5 wager in the sixth race.

(Standardbred Owners of Massachusetts; photo of P L Pasquale winning on Sept. 16)