Newsy N landed in the United States from Australia in August and has spent the majority of her time since racing in Maine. But after winning three straight starts in the Pine Tree state, Newsy N came to Plainridge Park on Thursday (Oct. 13) to take on the best resident mares in Massachusetts and won the $20,000 Distaff Open in a lifetime mark on a rainy afternoon.
Driver Ron Cushing left for the front with Newsy N and made it difficult for fellow leaver Powered By Mach to gain control of that position at the quarter in :26.2. Powered By Mach did finally cross over on the point and skated to the half in :55.3. But there was no rest for her there as stablemate Adashious Hanover came rolling up on the outside to push the issue further.
Adashious Hanover gained ground on Powered By Mach on the back straight and continued to get closer around the final turn. At the top of the stretch, Powered By Mach and Adashious Hanover were almost even and they proceeded to battle all the way to the line. But Cushing found room up the pylons with Newsy N and she accelerated with velocity to make up her 1-1/2-length deficit and then go on to win by a half length in a personal-best time of 1:52.4.
Newsy N is owned by her driver Cushing along with Kevin Sywyk. Heidi Gibbs trains the five-year-old daughter of Bettors Delight-Ultimate Art. She paid $4.40 to win.
In one of the co-featured $17,500 trots - this one for upper-level performers - Blue Knight broke a string of three second-place finishes after winning here with an early first-over move.
Joey Bats took an easy two-length lead and set fractions of :28.2 and :58.3 to the half. Gray had Blue Knight out and rolling at that station and showed a lot of heart, getting to the lead when they hit three-quarters in a :27.3 split in a downpour. Joey Bats fought back around the last turn with Blue Knight still parked, and the two trotted side by side into the stretch. With both drivers urging their horses as they approached the wire, Blue Knight finally got the edge and won by three-quarter lengths in 1:55.4.
Blue Knight is owned and trained by Richard Mason. He paid $5.40 to win.
Gray and Mason also teamed up to win with Midnight Craze (1:56.4 winning mile, $11.20 to win).
The other $17,500 conditioned trot - this one for six-year-olds and under - saw 14-1 Billy B (Wally Watson) go right to the front and lead at every station. Taking a one-length advantage into the stretch, Billy B then held off a late-closing brush from Stevic and hung on to win in 1:56.2, which was only one-fifth of a second off his lifetime best. Lisa Watson trains Billy B for owner Joel Wheeler. He paid $30.80 to win.
The venerable 13-year-old trotter Neverdie won his 50th race on Thursday after moving first over at the half, taking the lead at the top of the stretch and trotting away to a one-length victory in 1:59.1. Owned by Michael Graham, his trainer Mike Cushing and his driver Steve Wilson, Neverdie returned $3.20 for the landmark win.
Horsemen scoring doubles on Thursday include drivers Shawn Gray, Bruce Ranger and Luke Hanners and trainer Jimmy Nickerson.
Live racing resumes at Plainridge Park on Sunday afternoon (Oct. 16) at 2 p.m. (EDT) when the $2.56 million Massachusetts Sire Stakes reconvene for the third leg.
(Plainridge Park)