A pair of $12,000 conditioned events for trotters under six years of age were contested at Plainridge Park on Friday afternoon and it was girl power all around as three-year-old fillies Lindy Pearl and Crystalline were much the best in their respective divisions despite weather that continued to decline as the day went on.
Lindy Pearl (Drew Monti) got away sixth; seven lengths behind the leading Hs Marcia (Drew Campbell) who took to group to the half in :59.3. Monti was out and rolling with Lindy Pearl at that point and moved methodically up the rim as the race went to three-quarters. There they took the lead, turned for home and stretched out to a four-length win in 1:58.2.
It was the second straight win for Lindy Pearl ($2.40) who is owned by Lindy Farms of Connecticut and trained by Domenico Cecere.
Meanwhile, using a completely different strategy, driver Kevin Switzer Jr. pushed Crystalline right to the front and moved through fractions of :28.3, :58.4 and 1:28.4 where the team had opened up a commanding four-length advantage. Crystalline then turned into the stretch and trotted home ahead by two at the line in 2:00.
Crystalline ($3.00), who is the 2019 Massachusetts Sire Stake three-year-old trotting filly champion, captured her ninth win of the year and enhanced her earnings to $147,465 for owner Ray Campbell, Jr. Scott Renz trains the winner.
Monti and Switzer each added another victory during the card and joined Mitchell Cushing as the leading drivers for the day with two wins apiece.
Racing resumes at Plainridge Park on Monday afternoon at 1 p.m.
(Standardbred Owners of Massachusetts)