A pair of $25,000 Winners-Over races were featured at Plainridge Park on Friday afternoon (Oct. 13) and both were captured by down-under wonders.
The trotters lined up first with Enhance Yourcalm N (Kevin Switzer Jr.) tripping-out to a sharp victory.
Enhance Yourcalm N tucked in second while Marquis Lafayette (Bruce Ranger) set quarters of :29, :57.1 and 1:25.3 with only a mild bid from Chapheart (Brett Beckwith) to deal with to that point. Marquis Lafayette maintained his position into the stretch where Switzer pulled Enhance Yourcalm N and then drove him hard down the stretch to catch the leader at the line by one-quarter length in 1:53.3.
In the last five starts since coming to Plainridge, it was the fourth win for Enhance Yourcalm N ($11.80) for his trainer Mark Eaton, who co-owns with Robert Griffin.
Two races later, the pacers went to post and Vintage Cheddar N (Brett Beckwith) went the mile of his life.
Heinikin Bythebay (Kevin Switzer Jr.) took the field to the half in :56 when The Wild Card (Bruce Ranger) and Vintage Cheddar N came calling in the outer flow. The Wild Card tired at three-quarters and Beckwith was forced to go three-high with Vintage Cheddar N before the last turn. Heinikin Bythebay still had a two-length lead at the top of the stretch, but Vintage Cheddar N dug in hard and paced up a :26.2 storm coming home to win in a new lifetime best 1:50.2.
In only four North American starts, it was the third win and the second consecutive lifetime mark for Vintage Cheddar N ($4.20), who is owned by S&K Misfit Racing, John Ball and VIP Internet Stable. Amanda Kelley trains the winner.
Brett Beckwith and Jay Randall both had two driving wins while 10 different trainers each won one race during the proceedings.
Live racing will resume at Plainridge Park on Monday, Oct. 16 at 2 p.m. and there will be a $39,125 carryover in the Wicked Hi-5 pentafecta wager in race six.
The $3 million Massachusetts Sire Stakes will also reconvene on Monday with the third leg of two-year-olds going postward. The three-year-olds will go on Tuesday, Oct. 17 and the finals for both will be held on Tuesday, Oct. 24. Horsepeople are reminded there will be a detention barn for the finals and all horses must be checked into the stable area at Plainridge Park no later than 8 p.m. on Monday, Oct. 23.
(With files from Plainridge Park)