Fresh off an outstanding 1:48.4 mile where she was beaten only 2-1/4 lengths by Grace Hill in the $540,000 Breeders Crown for older pacing mares at Woodbine Mohawk Park, No Win No Feed A toyed with a short but select field of top distaff pacers in the $30,000 Open Handicap Pace for fillies and mares at Plainridge Park on Tuesday afternoon (Nov. 15).
Shawn Gray floated No Win No Feed A off the gate and gained control of the race at the eighth pole. She then settled onto the pylons and dictated the rest of the mile. After going quarters of :27.2, :56.3 and 1:25.1 totally unchallenged, No Win No Feed A opened up two lengths around the last turn and simply cruised home under wraps to win by three in 1:52.4.
Off at 1-9, No Win No Feed A returned $2.10 to her backers. The seven-year-old Australian-bred daughter of Rocknroll Dance-Designer Rose scored her 11th win of the year and pushed her 2022 earnings to $234,212 for owner Douglas Overheiser. Erv Miller, who just recently surpassed the $100 million USD mark in career earnings, trains the winner.
There were also two $20,000 conditioned races for the ladies on Tuesday and both were won from off the pace.
First, Beyond The Past (Drew Campbell) brushed from second before the half to grab the lead and open up a five length advantage by three-quarters. From there Campbell sat chilly as Beyond The Past waltzed to the wire in 1:52.3 to take a new lifetime mark.
It was the second consecutive win and second consecutive lifetime mark for the Hoosier Park transfer Beyond The Past ($3.80), which was an Oct. 31 purchase for new owner John Di Antonio Jr. Robert Marston trains the winner.
Then Therewasthisgirl (Nick Graffam) pulled third-over from sixth at the half in pursuit of the front-running Sweet Sally Sue (Kevin Switzer Jr.). Still fifth and three lengths off the leader at the head of the stretch, Therewasthisgirl closed with attitude to win by three-quarters of a length over the 171-1 shot In The Night (Jay Randall) in 1:54.1.
Therewasthisgirl ($11.40) is owned by George Ducharme Stable and Heather Marshall. It was one of two scores on Tuesday for trainer Mike Graffam, as well as driver Nick Graffam.
The legacy of longshots continued at Plainridge Park on Tuesday. After Ocean Colony’s $125.80 upset yesterday, the aforementioned 171-1 shot In The Night just missed getting across today, returning $31.40 to place. However the 61-1 Wainapedia did not come up short in race nine. The Michelle Hardin owned and trained Wainapedia came from eighth and last at three-quarters to first by 1-1/4 lengths at the line where he took a new lifetime mark of 1:55.2 and paid $125.80.
Driver Matty “Ice” Athearn was hot Tuesday, getting a hat trick in the bike to lead all drivers during the afternoon.
Racing resumes at Plainridge Park on Thursday (Nov. 17) with post time at 1 p.m. Free full past performance race programs for all live race days can be downloaded by visiting the track's website and clicking the "Racing" tab.
(Standardbred Owners of Massachusetts)