Despite going a career-best mile just three weeks ago, Sweet Street Lou was overlooked at the windows and sent off at 15-1. That came back to haunt the Plainridge Park punters after the three-year-old son of Sweet Lou upset the field in the featured $28,169 conditioned pace on Tuesday afternoon, Nov. 19.
Ben Solo (Bruce Ranger) was the commander of fractions in :26.1 and :55.2 to the half. There, My Boy Elroy (Drew Monti) moved first-over from fourth and brought Sweet Street Lou and driver Kevin Switzer Jr. with him. Ben Solo and My Boy Elroy then paced in step to three-quarters in 1:23.4 and around the final turn. As the field approached the stretch, Switzer tipped Sweet Street Lou three-wide into the center of the track and then he marched smartly to the line to win by a quarter of a length over the fast-closing Bang Ah Uey (Jim Hardy) in 1:53.2. Island Warrior (Drew Campbell) closed for third as the race's 56-1 longest shot on the board.
The win was the fourth win of the year in 26 starts for Sweet Street Lou, who is trained and owned by Dale Andersen, in partnership with Kristian Andersen. A $2 win ticket on Sweet Street Lou returned $33.40.
There were also a pair of $23,944 conditioned paces for five-year-olds and under on the card.
In the first, Beantown Ace and driver Nick Graffam got away sixth, but made their way to second on the outside at three-quarters in pursuit of the front-running Crazierthebettor (Brett Beckwith). When they straightened for home, Beantown Ace bolted for the line and won by 4-1/2 lengths in 1:55.1. Beantown Ace is owned by Michael Goldberg Racing and trained by Mike Graffam. Sent off as the heavy favourite, the three-year-old Captain Crunch filly paid $2.20 to win.
In the second, Triple Sevens and driver Matty Athearn made a first-over move from fourth at the half and drew even with the pacesetter Poker Sy (Bruce Ranger) at three-quarters. The two then battled around the last turn and into the stretch where Triple Sevens got the advantage and pulled away to a two-length victory in a lifetime best 1:52.1. Triple Sevens is owned by Rick Cortese and Marc Reynolds, and trained by Jimmy Nickerson. The three-year-old Rockin Image gelding returned $15.40 to win as the 6-1 third choice.
Drew Monti and Kevin Switzer Jr. both had two driving wins on Tuesday while nine different trainers all won one race each.
Racing resumes at Plainridge Park on Thursday, Nov. 21 at 1 p.m.
(With files from Standardbred Owners of Massachusetts)