Kyrie Deo had a fairly easy day at work on Friday, Oct. 25 as he handily won the $29,167 featured trot at Plainridge Park to notch his fifth win of the year. But he also wore pink for the race, and his win was only one of the many victories that were celebrated by the crowd on hand, many who were cancer survivors and who also wore pink, that came out to raise awareness and funds for breast cancer research and hopefully a cure, during the Men Wear Pink Sulky Social.
Steve Wilson put Kyrie Deo on the point and the seven-year-old Donato Hanover gelding trotted quarters of :28.2, :58.3 and 1:27 while Twoscoopsforjack (Wally Watson) stalked intently from the pocket. But as the field made its way through the last turn, Kyrie Deo switched gears and he pulled away by three lengths at the top of the stretch. From there, Kyrie Deo was home alone and crossed the line the best by 4-1/4 lengths in 1:56. Twoscoopsforjack followed back in second while Pass Key (Jimmy Hardy) and Busting With Pride (Brett Beckwith) finished in a dead heat for third.
Kyrie Deo ($6.20) is owned by William Phipps and trained by Mike Cushing, who finished the day with two winners from his stable.
There was a special winner’s circle presentation made to the connections of Kyrie Deo by Massachusetts State Representative Marcus S. Vaughn, Nancy Longobardi of the Standardbred Owners of Massachusetts as well as breast cancer survivor Heidi Nickerson and her daughter, Emery Nickerson, who were all on hand to support the Men Wear Pink Sulky Social breast cancer initiative at Plainridge Park.
The Men Wear Pink Sulky Social was held on Friday and a large crowd on hand enjoyed food, drink and racing as well as several presentations during the afternoon. The event was well received by all, but as the function will continue into the evening on the casino side, the final donation amounts are still being tabulated.
The leading driver on Friday was Jimmy Hardy, who had a hat trick in the bike. Hardy won with Summer Prayer (1:57.3, $8.80), Lord Ritchie (1:56.3, $5.40) and Poppy Wow (1:56.2, $8) -- the last two were trained by Jolene Andrews, who joined Cushing as the top trainers for the day.
Racing resumes at Plainridge Park on Monday, Oct. 28 at 2 p.m. and there will be a $12,692 carryover in the Wicked Hi-5 pentafecta in race six.
(With files from Standardbred Owners of Massachusetts; Photo of winning horse Kyrie Deo with, left to right, Nancy Longobardi, Rep. Marcus Vaughn, Steve Wilson, Heidi Nickerson and Emery Nickerson)