Pastrnak tickled the twine with a lifetime-best victory in the $28,571 Minutemen and Women Pace on Tuesday, Oct. 13 at Plainridge Park as he went gate-to-wire to take the event for three-year-old Massachusetts-breds who are currently competing in the Massachusetts Breeders Stakes.
Pastrnak (Mitchell Cushing) left fast and reached the quarter on top by four lengths in :27.4. With Daisy Dudes (Matty Athearn) sitting in the loose pocket, Pastrnak paced unassaulted to the half in :56.4 and three-quarters in 1:24.4. About halfway through the last bend, Daisy Dudes left the pocket and started to advance on the leader, but as she was getting in gear, Daisy Dudes made a break, leaving a clear path for Coach Cry (Bruce Ranger) to chase Pastrnak. Coach Cry made up ground rapidly, but Pastrnak hung on by a half-length and won in 1:54.1. Street Justice (Brett Beckwith) finished third.
Pastrnak ($15) is owned, trained and was bred by Nancy Longobardi. The Captain Crunch-Dreamlands Jo Jo gelding is now two-for-31 lifetime.
The Massachusetts Breeders Stakes will reconvene at Plainridge on Monday, Oct. 19 at 2 p.m.
There were also two $17,143 TrackMaster 79 races on the card.
In the first, P A Piper (Jimmy Hardy) got away last and trailed the field of four until the last turn, then moved clear at the top of the stretch and outpaced his rivals coming home by a half-length in 1:53.2. P A Piper ($6.80) is owned by Arthur Blutstein, Hardy and trainer Jolene Andrews.
In the second, Bag Pipe Major (Brett Beckwith) got away third and sat there until making a first-over move past the half. He drew alongside leader Major Betts (Nick Graffam) in the last turn and then pulled away by 1-1/4 lengths at the line to win in 1:52.2, a seasonal mark. Bag Pipe Major ($12.40) is owned by Jan Donaway and trained by Bethany Graffam.
Mitchell Cushing posted a driving hat trick on the nine-race Tuesday card.
Racing will resume at Plainridge Park on Thursday at 2 p.m. There will be a $6,537 carryover in the Wicked Hi-5 pentafecta wager in the sixth race.
(With files from Standardbred Owners of Massachusetts)