A pair of $34,722 Open Handicap events headlined the card at Plainridge Park on Thursday, Oct. 2 and both winners scored their second straight victories at the top level.  

The trotters lined up first, and Marquis Lafayette made it look easy.

Marquis Lafayette (Bruce Ranger) got away third and watched Big Box Hanover (Larry Stalbaum) set the first-half fractions of :26.3 and :55.4. Then Ranger pulled Marquis Lafayette heading onto the backstretch, and the gelding ended up on top by two lengths at three-quarters in 1:23.2 and edged away by three lengths at the top of the stretch. From there, Marquis Lafayette was under wraps and cruised home easily in 1:53. A New Leader (Mitch Cushing) narrowed the gap to three-quarters of a length as he finished second. Memorynimagination (Matty Athearn) was third.

Marquis Lafayette ($5) is owned by Greathorse and trained by Domenico Cecere. The eight-year-old son of Ready Cash-Highscore Kemp has won 26 times and earned $468,830 in 81 career starts.

In the distaff pace, Always Bstunning N circled the field to win in a thrilling finish.

Swedish Starlet N (Athearn) had the early lead and took the field to the quarter in :26.1 before Uptown Hanover (Cushing) motored to the top past that station and got to the half in :54.3. At this point, Always Bstunning N (Kevin Switzer Jr.) was eighth and last, but she was soon third-over in an outer flow led by Side Piece (Ranger). These positions remained unchanged around the last turn, where Swedish Starlet N found room along the pylons and shot to the lead halfway down the stretch. But Always Bstunning N was five-wide in the middle of the lane and brimming with pace. The two mares matched strides on opposite sides of the track, and Always Bstunning N pulled ahead in the shadow of the wire and won by a half-length in 1:51. Intothemysticmoon (Nick Graffam) completed the ticket.

The win was the ninth of the year in 16 attempts for Always Bstunning N ($6.80). The six-year-old Always B Miki-Simply Stunning mare is owned by Richard Poillucci and trained by Gretchen Athearn. She has won 15 of 55 lifetime starts and has banked $233,431.

Plainridge leading driver Brett Beckwith racked up another five wins on the 11-race card. He won with One Bettor (1:56, $3.80), Slick Leonard (1:55.4, $25.60), Hey Jude Hanover (1:53.2, $8.20), Alamo Mission (1:54, $4.40), and Sweet Carollou (1:53.1, $4.20). Beckwith is atop the drivers' standings with 110 wins to this point, nine ahead of the second-placed Nick Graffam.

Live racing will resume at Plainridge Park on Friday at 2 p.m., and there will be a $2,602 carryover in the Wicked Hi-5 pentafecta in the sixth race. 

(Standardbred Owners of Massachusetts; photo of Always Bstunning N winning on Oct. 2)