A camera was needed to separate the top three finishers in the $25,000 distaff pacing feature at Plainridge Park on Tuesday afternoon (Nov. 28) but the picture clearly showed that La Bella Vita N got the job done for the second week in a row.
Kevin Switzer Jr. left for position from post seven with La Bella Vita N, who dropped in fourth as the front-running Racey Rach N (Jay Randall) seated Booraa N (Ron Cushing) in :27.4. But Racey Rach N only had the lead a short time as the impatient La Bella Vita N pulled early and rushed to the front on the outside by the half. But La Bella Vita N was immediately faced with a new challenge from her stablemate Pammy Jo (Shawn Gray), who drew alongside Booraa N heading up the backstretch, second on the outside. Pammy Jo finally engaged La Bella Vita N halfway through the last turn while Booraa N tipped three-wide around them both. Heading to the wire, these three matched strides in close proximity and produced the photo finish that gave La Bella Vita N the win by a nose in 1:54.2.
The win was the eighth of the year for the Alicia Gray-trained La Bella Vita N ($6) and it pushed her seasonal earnings to $138,000 for owners Douglas Overhiser and Michael Goldberg Racing.
The final day of live racing for 2023 at Plainridge Park will take place on Thursday, Nov. 30, with post time at 1 p.m.
(With files from Standardbred Owners of Massachusetts)