The winners of the $35,211 Open Pace events at Plainridge Park on Thursday, Oct. 23 both scored upsets, coming in at 17-1 and 5-1.
In the Fillies and Mares Open Handicap Pace, Side Piece (Bruce Ranger) got away third behind Seaside Tina (Mitchell Cushing) and Swedish Starlet N (Matty Athearn), who pushed her way to the front passing the quarter in :27.1. Swedish Starlet N then backed down the tempo to the half in :56.2 when Side Piece moved first-over to challenge on the backstretch.
Side Piece used a :26.4 third panel to pass Swedish Starlet N and shoot out to a two-length lead at three-quarters in 1:23.2. Side Piece then opened up three lengths at the top of the stretch and held off the late rushes from a resurgent Swedish Starlet N and a fast-closing Always Bstunning N (Kevin Switzer Jr.) by a half-length to win in 1:52.2. Always Bstunning N was second over Swedish Starlet N.
Side Piece ($36.40) is now five-for-24 this season for owner Janie Kellogg and trainer Jackie Greene. The five-year-old daughter of Shadow Play-Queen Otra has won 26 times in 71 career starts.
Spring Inhis Step A (Brett Beckwith) rolled to the lead from post seven and was never headed from there in the Open Handicap Pace. After posting fractions of :26.2, :55 and 1:22.2, Spring Inhis Step A turned for home and separated from the field by 2-1/2 lengths en route to a facile victory in 1:50.2. Blazing Home N (Larry Stalbaum) was second-best over the closing Two Fold Cold (David Ingraham).
The win was the fourth in the last five starts for Spring Inhis Step A ($12.20), who has won eight of 23 seasonal starts. The eight-year-old Somebeachsomewhere-Summa Of Dreams gelding is a 29-time winner from 96 lifetime appearances. Jeff Cullipher trains him for Pollack Racing LLC.
On a day in which only one favourite won, there were plentiful payouts available all afternoon. Premium win prices included Twin B Jays (1:52.2, $92.60) who led an 8-3-1 triactor that paid $4,090.50 for $1, and Jackies Boy (1:50.2, $39.40).
Switzer was the top driver with three wins on Thursday. Jeff Cullipher bested other trainers with two wins.
Live racing will resume at Plainridge Park on Friday, Oct. 24 at 2 p.m., and there will be a $2,983 carryover in the Wicked Hi-5 pentafecta in the sixth race. The $1.2 million USD finals of the Massachusetts Breeders Stakes will be held at Plainridge Park on Thursday, Oct. 30.
(Standardbred Owners of Massachusetts; photo of Side Piece winning on Oct. 23)