A trio of $35,714 top class Open events headlined the bill at Plainridge Park on Monday (July 6) afternoon and despite heavy rain and an off-track to contend with, stout performances were turned in by all three winners.

First, in the Open Handicap pace for fillies and mares, Royally Hot turned in the performance of her life as she scored her fourth win of the season.

Royally Hot (Mitchell Cushing) got away fifth as Intothemysticmoon (Bruce Ranger) parked Custard Dolce (Drew Monti) past the :26.2 first quarter before Custard Dolce took command of the field. The leader marched to the half in :54.4 where Joansrisingstar N (Kevin Switzer Jr.) pulled first-over on the attack with Royally Hot right on her tail.

The outer-flow continued to advance until Joansrisingstar N pushed by Custard Dolce to the lead by a half-length at the top of the stretch. But at the same time, Royally Hot had tipped around Joansrisingstar N, swelled up and paced away from the field in deep stretch by 4-1/2 length to win in a lifetime best, 1:50.1. Intothemysticmoon was second, with Mrs Cheese (Brett Beckwith) third.

Royally Hot ($8.60) is trained by Alison Hynes. Tim Tetrick of Woolwich Township, NJ owns and bred the four-year-old daughter of Bettors Wish-McSauna. 

Then in the Open Handicap pace for horses and geldings, Soho Spectre A remained perfect at Plainridge after winning his second straight start in gate to wire fashion.

Soho Spectre A (Brett Beckwith) took no prisoners from the start and turned back all comers in the end. With Lifes A Puzzle (Nick Graffam) tucked in the pocket, Soho Spectra A went :27.2 and :55.4 to the half before being addressed by the competition. Still Rollin N (Matty Athearn) moved first-up in the breeze with Hunting Zone (Bruce Ranger) on his back as they passed three-quarters in 1:23.2.

Soho Spectre A maintained a one length lead around the last turn and into the stretch where Lifes A Puzzle moved into second ahead of Still Rollin N, before Hunting Zone found room and got to within a half-length of the leader. But that was as close as he’d get as Soho Spectre A hung on to win at the line in 1:51.

It was the third win in the last four starts for Soho Spectre A ($3.20), who has now earned just shy of $400,000 lifetime for owner Pollack Racing of Venetia, PA. Enrico Robinson trains the winning six-year-old Art Major-Delightful Jade gelding.

Finally, in the Open Handicap trot, Spaaaanzano also took the quickest route to victory and in a season’s best time.

Spaaaanzano (Drew Monti) was fleet-footed off the gate and took a lead he would never relinquish. After posting fractions of :27.1, :56.4 and 1:24.3 with only a mild outside bid from Resolve To Win (Bruce Ranger), and the pocket-sitting Ordained (Brett Beckwith) and Kazio DK (Kevin Switzer Jr.) staying close, Spaaaanzano turned from home a loose winner by 2-3/4 lengths in 1:53.2, which was his fastest mile of the year and only one-fifth of a second off his lifetime mark. Kazio DK was second, with Ordained settling for third.

Spaaaanzano ($3.60) is owned by Kellogg Racing of Queensbury, NY. Jackie Green trains the winning five-year-old Coraggioso-Grace N Charlie gelding.

Brett Beckwith and Bruce Ranger both had hat tricks at the lines on Monday, while 11 different trainers each won one race apiece during the afternoon.

Racing will resume at Plainridge Park on Monday (July 6) at 4 p.m. and there will be a $2,506 USD carryover in the Wicked Hi-5 pentafecta wager in the sixth race.

(With files from The Standardbred Owners of Massachusetts; Photo of Soho Spectre A)