After travelling third to the half, Warrawee Yale made a winning move to capture the $35,211 Baystate Special Pace at Plainridge Park on Thursday, Nov. 6.

Er Griffin (Nick Graffam) pushed past Mansome (Bruce Ranger) to take control passing the :26.4 quarter. The field stayed single-file to the half in :55.2 and then halfway up the backstretch, where Kevin Switzer Jr. tipped Warrawee Yale to begin an advance towards the leader.

Warrawee Yale pulled alongside Er Griffin as they passed three-quarters in 1:24.1, and a match race ensued as the pair went stride-for-stride from there. They paced in sync around the last turn, into the stretch, and all the way down the lane, with little separating the noses of Er Griffin and Warrawee Yale. But Warrawee Yale got a slight advantage at the line and won by a quarter-length in 1:52.4. Mansome was third.

Warrawee Yale ($7.40) is now four-for-27 this season for owner-trainer Gerald MacKenzie Jr. The five-year-old son of Captaintreacherous-Queen Fourteen tallied his 13th career win in 77 starts.

Trainer Jimmy Nickerson had a big day at The Ridge as three horses from his stable returned for pictures. His biggest win of the day was scored by Joy In Mudville, who won the sub-featured $28,169 upper-level conditioned pace.

Joy In Mudville (Graffam) followed leader Fourever Boy (Aaron Byron) through splits of :27.3, :56, and 1:24.2. Patrikthepiranha A (Bruce Ranger) made a mild outside bid at three-quarters, but that move fell apart as the field moved through the last turn and the top two started to pull away. Fourever Boy took the lead into the stretch, but Joy In Mudville was out and rolling there and chipped away at his one-length deficit, going a half-length clear at the line to win in 1:52.3. Justcallmebuck (Switzer) completed the ticket.

The win was the third of the year for Joy In Mudville ($20.40), who is owned by Peter Karras, William Tortoriello, and Thomas Spathies. The four-year-old gelded son of Rockin Image-Molly Go Lightly is now eight-for-44 lifetime.

Nickerson's other wins came with Always A Miki (1:54.2, $3) and Courageous Warrior (1:53.3, $2.40).

The three wins moved Nickerson into a second-place tie for dash wins during the meet with Domenico Cecere, both of whom are only three wins behind the leader, Gretchen Athearn, who has 47 tallies.  

Matty “Ice” Athearn had the hot hands on Thursday, scoring four wins on the program. He steered Nickerson’s Always A Miki and Courageous Warrior, along with Second Bruiser (1:52.3, $20.20) and Dance Monkey (1:55, $8.80) to close out the grand slam.

Live racing will resume at Plainridge Park on Friday at 1 p.m. There will be a $4,398 carryover in the Wicked Hi-5 pentafecta in the sixth race.

(Standardbred Owners of Massachusetts)