Despite inclement weather and a rain-soaked track, speed was at the forefront over the 'good' surface at Plainridge Park on Thursday afternoon, Oct. 16 and the top two tilts clearly illustrated that.

In the featured $35,714 Open Handicap Pace for fillies and mares, Swedish Starlet N followed fast early fractions before pouncing late to claim her seventh win of the year in a 13-1 upset.

Swedish Starlet N and driver Matty Athearn followed in the garden spot as Soft Shot (Kyle Swift) got the early lead and favourite Achushla Machree N (Mitchell Cushing) was on the outside, trying to get to the front. After quarters of :26 and :54, it was clear Soft Shot was not going to cut Acushla Machree N loose and the top two tangled into the backstretch.

Acushla Machree N started to tire near five-eighths, where Royally Hot (Michael Oosting) tipped three-deep around her and moved into second while Swedish Starlet N was still lurking in the pocket. After the field passed the third marker in 1:21.3, Royally Hot continued to gain on Soft Shot and was almost even before they entered the stretch. That’s where Swedish Starlet N tipped three-deep around them both and powered down the lane like a freight train and won by 1-1/2 lengths in 1:50. Royally Hot finished second with Take Your Pick (Bruce Ranger) closing from the backfield to take third over Soft Shot.

Swedish Starlet N improved to 7-10-3 in 33 starts this year with seasonal earnings just shy of $200,000. The win was her 35th lifetime and pushed her bankroll to $713,196. The nine-year-old Mach Three-Top Of The Pile mare is trained Jimmy Nickerson and owned by Tim Bojarski of Akron, New York and Tony Gruppo of Bradenton, Florida. She returned $29 to win.

The $27,143 five-year-old and under class for non-winners of three races has become one of the toughest classes for male pacers at Plainridge over the past two weeks. Last week, newcomer PA Luke broke the track record for three-year-old pacing geldings with his 1:49.2 winning effort. This week, another newcomer fared even better as Just Givener broke that record again.

Just Givener and driver Nick Graffam got away third and watched as favourite PA Luke (Bruce Ranger) led the field through quarters of :26.2 and :54.1 to the half. As the field passed five-eighths, Just Givener moved into second and then followed PA Luke around the last turn past three-quarters in a sizzling 1:20.4. When the top two reached the seven-eighths pole, Just Givener tipped out, drew alongside PA Luke in mid-stretch and then pulled away by 1-1/2 lengths at the light and won in 1:49, a new lifetime mark for the winner.  Tahunanui (Mike Oosting) rounded out the top three.

Just Givener won his debut for new connections, trainer Enrico Robinson and owner Pollack Racing of Venetia, Pennsylvania. The McWicked-Bettor Move Over gelding now has four wins in 18 starts this year. He paid $18 to win as the 8-1 second choice.

Robinson and Pollack Racing ended the day with a total of three winners on the 11-race card. There also won with Twin B Sunkissed ($14.80) and Blood Moon A ($8.80), both driven by Bruce Ranger.

Racing will resume at Plainridge Park on Monday, Oct. 19 at 2 p.m. with the third leg of the Massachusetts Sire Stakes. There will be a $11,344 carryover in the Wicked Hi-5 pentafecta wager in the sixth race.

(With files from Standardbred Owners of Massachusetts; photo of Swedish Starlet N winning on Oct. 16)