Stalking off the pace while following fast early fractions, Turn The Page N (Ron Cushing) brushed late to win the $34,722 Open Handicap Pace for fillies and mares at Plainridge Park on Friday, Nov. 15.
Seaside Tina (Kevin Switzer Jr.) and Swedish Starlet N (Matty Athearn) took turns on the lead with the latter gaining control past the :26.3 quarter. Swedish Starlet N got a bit of a breather to the half, but soon saw Side Piece (Brett Beckwith) at her flank with Turn The Page N second-over in the breeze.
Side Piece wrangled the lead from Swedish Starlet N by a half length at three-quarters, but couldn’t clear to cross over. Then in the turn, Swedish Starlet N fought hard and reclaimed the front. As the girls entered the stretch Swedish Starlet N was still dealing with Side Piece and also Seaside Tina when Turn The Page N tipped three-wide in deep stretch and paced to a one length margin of victory in 1:52.1.
Turn The Page N ($3.00) raised her domestic earnings for the year to $174,528 for owners Ron Cushing and Kevin Sywyk. Heidi Cushing trains the winner.
In the secondary featured $31,250 distaff pace, Maggie At Bat (Matty Athearn) made a first-over mover from fourth at the half to clear the leading Roaring Kitty (Jim Hardy) by two lengths at three-quarters before turning for home and crossing the line first in 1:53.2.
Maggie At Bat ($7.20) is owned by Joe Hayes Jr. and trained by Jimmy Nickerson.
Brett Beckwith led all drivers with three wins on Friday.
Racing resumes at Plainridge Park on Monday (Nov. 18) at 1 p.m.
(Standardbred Owners of Massachusetts)