Brett Beckwith was in fine form at Plainridge Park on Monday (Aug. 24) afternoon as he won five races on the card, including the featured $34,247 Open Handicap pace with Soho Spectre A, who battled hard from start to finish and dug down deep to come up with a big win.

Soho Spectre A was parked-out three-wide the entire first quarter to get ahead of Wild Bill Wyatt (Mike Oosting) and Still Rollin N (Matty Athearn), which he finally did in :26.2. There was no slack in the pace from there as the leader went down to the half in :54.2 before coming under fire from his stablemate, T H Tyson (Bruce Ranger), who moved first-over in the breeze and drew alongside Soho Spectre A at three-quarters in 1:22.

The two pacers matched strides around turn three and entered the stretch with the field closing in behind them. T H Tyson moved to the front as they straightened for home, but Soho Spectre A fought back in deep stretch to regain the lead. But the race wasn't over because So Rock N Roll (Kevin Switzer Jr.) came out of the clouds and was flying down the middle of the track and seemed to catch Soho Spectre A in the shadow of the wire. But the photo showed Soho Spectre A bravely hung on by a head and won in 1:50.1. Still Rollin got the better of T H Tyson narrowly for third.

It was the sixth win of the year for Soho Spectre A ($12.40), who is owned by Pollock Racing of Venetia, PA. Enrico Robinson trains the winning six-year-old Art Major-Delightful Jade gelding.

Earlier in the upper-level $27,397 conditioned pace, Beckwith also won with Makorori N, who got away third momentarily as 30-1 shot Fearful Intent (Bruce Ranger) took the lead. But Makorori N was out quickly past the quarter and shot to the lead in front of the stands and making it to the half in :55.3. From there, Makorori N was in full control as he flew by three-quarters in a :27.1 split, rounded the last bend well ahead and opened up 2-1/4 lengths at the line to win in 1:51.1.

It was the eighth win of the year for Makorori N ($3.00), who is owned by Paul O’Neil of Saratoga Springs, NY. Alicia Gray trains the winning five-year-old Downbytheseaside-Karamea Dreamin gelding.

Besides the aforementioned two wins, Beckwith rounded out his five-bagger with Montana GB (1:51.2, $6.40), D A Wicked Shine (1:52.2, $2.80) and Lochlan Hanover (1:501, $3.60).

Racing will resume at Plainridge Park on Tuesday (Aug 25) at 4 p.m.

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