Former B.C. stakes champion Side Piece made an early second-over move and turned it into a victory in the $34,722 Open Handicap Pace for fillies and mares at Plainridge Park on Friday afternoon, Nov. 1.
Seaside Tina (Kevin Switzer Jr.) was the fastest of several leavers and settled on the point first. After stopping the timer in :26.2 and :55, Seaside Tina was faced with an outer flow led by Jenden Strike A (Ron Cushing) and followed by favourite Side Piece (Brett Beckwith). These positions remained unchanged to three-quarters in 1:22.2 and around the far turn where Beckwith called on Side Piece to do more, and she responded. After drawing even with Seaside Tina, Side Piece forged ahead and scored by three-quarters of a length in 1:51.1. Seaside Tina settled for second and Swedish Starlet N (Matty Athearn) finished third.
The win was the ninth of the year from 27 starts for Side Piece, a four-year-old daughter of Shadow Play trained by Jackie Greene and owned by Janie Kellogg. She is now 22-for-43 lifetime with upwards of $400,000 in earnings. Side Piece paid $4.60 to win.
In the secondary featured $27,778 distaff pace, Quarrel (Bruce Ranger) made quick work of a full field of nine by striking the lead, setting fractions of :26.2, :55.3 and 1:23.4 before turning for home and maintaining her 1-3/4-length lead to win in 1:52.1. Quarrel is owned by Karma Racing and trained by Rob Harmon. She paid $5 to win.
Drivers Matty Athearn and Bruce Ranger each scored two wins on Friday while nine different trainers each had one win apiece.
(With files from Standardbred Owners of Massachusetts)