Brett Beckwith was on point again on Friday, Nov. 22 after he swept the co-featured $35,211 Winners-Over trots at Plainridge Park where big efforts were turned in and solid payoffs were paid out by both victors.
The first division went to Snowpiercer (pictured above) who went gate to wire with the win never in doubt.
Beckwith set Snowpiercer on the point and stepped off quarters of :27.3. :57 and 1:25 while turning away a mild bid from Marquis Lafayette (Bruce Ranger). Snowpiercer then took his two length lead into the final turn, entered the stretch with the same gap behind him and trotted home under a line drive to win in 1:54.4.
Owned by Janie Kellogg and trained by Jackie Greene, Snowpiercer ($10.20) scored his sixth win of the year.
The second division was won by the Massachusetts-bred and stake champion Bill Bauer, who was also the commander of fractions en route to a new lifetime mark.
Beckwith also sent Bill Bauer forward off the gate and grabbed the front just past the :27.3 quarter. Once settled on the lead, Bill Bauer went to the half in :56.2 where Sforza (Bruce Ranger) mounted an attack first-up in the breeze. Sforza drew alongside Bill Bauer moving up the backstretch and got to within a half length of the leader. But Bill Bauer was not giving any ground and held Sforza at bay from three-quarters to the top of the stretch. When they straightened for home, Bill Bauer swelled up and trotted away from the group by 1-1/2 lengths and stopped the clock in 1:53.4, which was a career best effort for the winner.
The win was the second in the last three starts and fourth of the year for Bill Bauer ($10,00), who is owned by his trainer Paul Kelley, in partnership with Leo Bauer.
Beckwith rounded out his trotting triple with the Danish-bred Ikon Vang DK (1:55.3, $2.80) who scored his third consecutive win since landing in the U.S., while making his first visit to Plainridge.
Despite Beckwith’s big day, Bruce Ranger was the leading dash driver for Friday as he registered a grand slam during the afternoon. Ranger won with Internationalmodel (1:57.1, $5.40), Treatyofversaille (1:56.1, $3.80) and Cheval Rapide (1:57.3, $2.10) who were all trained by Domenico Cecere, and Dazzling Lindy (1:59, $26.80).
Live harness racing resumes at Plainridge Park on Monday (Nov. 25) at 1 p.m. and there will be a $4,641 carryover in the Wicked Hi-5 pentafecta in race six.
There are only four live racing days left in the 2024 meet that wraps up on Friday (Nov. 29). Please note that next week, racing will be held on Monday (Nov. 25), Tuesday (Nov. 26), Wednesday (Nov. 27) and Friday (Nov. 29), with Thursday (Nov. 28) being dark in observance of the Thanksgiving holiday.
(Standardbred Owners of Massachusetts)