Uff Da overcame the post-eight disadvantage to score a repeat victory in the $28,169 Minutemen and Women for Massachusetts-bred pacers on Tuesday, Oct. 27 at Plainridge Park.
Brett Beckwith, currently North America’s fifth-leading dash driver, drove the gelding as part of a feature sweep for the reinsman.
Uff Da was parked three-deep through much of the :26.4 quarter before he finally crossed over passing the finish line the first time. Uff Da then reached the half in :56.1 with Beantown Miki (Mitchell Cushing) sitting on his back. As they made their way to three-quarters in 1:25.1, Street Justice (Kyle Swift) applied first-over pressure to the leader well into the last turn. But Street Justice eventually faded, leaving Beantown Miki a clear path towards Uff Da, with Mias Boy (Matty Athearn) also in full flight heading for home. That two-pronged attack kept gaining ground, but Uff Da reached the line before they could reach him and won by three-quarters of a length in 1:54.3. Mias Boy was second over Beantown Miki.
Uff Da ($3), with two straight scores in Minutemen and Women events, has won three of his last four starts to move to five-for-13 this year after going winless in two as a rookie. The sophomore son of Pet Rock-Sweet Bettor is owned by John Lems and Chris Lems and trained by Melissa Beckwith.
Beckwith then scored a nightcap winner with Th Kay C Crunch, who took a new lifetime mark in a $28,169 starter allowance.
Th Kay C Crunch got away fifth as Sweet Street Lou (Matty Athearn) muscled his way to the front in :26.1. But Montana Gb (Nick Graffam) immediately pulled and charged to the front before before the half in :54. Sweet Street Lou came out nearing three-quarters in 1:22 to challenge Montana Gb while Th Kay C Crunch was third-over in the outer flow until Beckwith tipped him three-wide at the top of turn three and moved into contention by the head of the stretch. When they straightened for home, Th Kay C Crunch reeled in Montana Gb and cruised home under little encouragement to win by 1-1/4 lengths in 1:50.2, home in :27.4. Jls Rock Star (Kyle Swift) was third.
The win was the seventh of the year in 33 starts for Th Kay C Crunch ($5.40), who is owned by Joe Trice and trained by Jimmy Nickerson. The four-year-old Captain Crunch-Special Kay Deo gelding is now 10-for-59 lifetime.
Beckwith’s other win on the 10-race card was with Captain Tell (1:52.3, $3). Gerald MacKenzie Jr. led all trainers on Tuesday with a pair of winners.
Racing will resume at Plainridge Park on Thursday at 2 p.m. with the $1.32 million Massachusetts Breeders Stakes finals. The finest two- and three-year-old trotters and pacers of both genders bred in Massachusetts will be going to post in eight races valued at $165,000 USD each. There will be a $20,203 carryover in the Wicked Hi-5 pentafecta wager in the sixth race.
Starting next week on Monday, Nov. 2, post time will be moved to 1 p.m. for the remainder of the meet, which concludes on Tuesday, Nov. 24.
(With files from Standardbred Owners of Massachusetts)