Sweet Jeff Ir posted his best outing of the season as he went gate to wire to win the featured $28,169 Starter Allowance at Plainridge Park on Thursday, Oct. 22.
Sweet Jeff Ir left from post one in line to Kyle Swift and, with Sweet Street Lou (Matty Athearn) sitting on his back, set fractions of :27, :55 and 1:22.2, defending from a challenge by Jls Rockstar (Mitchell Cushing) through the third panel. In the stretch, Sweet Street Lou tipped out and tried to catch the leader but came up a quarter-length short as Sweet Jeff Ir hung on to win in 1:50.1. Jls Rock Star finished third.
Sweet Jeff Ir ($6.40) is owned by Burke Racing Stable LLC and Weaver Bruscemi LLC and trained by Joe Nelson. The six-year-old son of Sweet Lou-Maddi is now 22-for-98 lifetime.
Kyle Swift also won one of the sub-featured $22,535 TrackMaster 83 events with Hungry To Succeed, who pulled first-over at five-eighths, took the lead at the top of the stretch and then held off the fast-closing Whats For Suppah (Kevin Switzer Jr.) to win by a half-length in 1:50.2. Justa Little Bit A (Athearn) was third. Hungry To Succeed ($4.20) is owned by David Del Pozzo and trained by Jaymes McAssey.
The other $22,535 TrackMaster 83 went to Low Rider (Matty Athearn), who moved to the front passing the quarter, then held off a late challenge by Smart Guy (Mitchell Cushing) to win by a length in 1:51, which was a new seasonal mark. P L Pasquale (Kevin Switzer Jr.) completed the top three. Low Rider ($5.80) is owned by Fought Racing, Brian Carsey and Adam Friedland and trained by Julia Eaton.
Athearn was the leading driver on Thursday after he won four races on the 11-race program. Besides his victory with Low Rider, Athearn also won with Big City Maybelline (1:54, $16.20), Family Jewel (1:54.2, $6.80) and Whata Foolbelieves (1:52.2, $7.40).
Those four wins pushed Athearn to the lead for driving victories this meet with a total of 145, passing Mitchell Cushing, who now sits in second with 143.
Racing will resume at Plainridge Park on Friday at 2 p.m. There will be a $16,661 carryover in the Wicked Hi-5 pentafecta wager in the sixth race.
(With files from Standardbred Owners of Massachusetts)