Spa shipper Alittlesidehustl N made her way to Massachusetts on Tuesday (Nov. 8) and excelled in her bay state debut, winning the $30,000 Fillies and Mares Open Handicap at Plainridge Park.
Alittlesidehustl N (Jay Randall) settled in third from post one as a headstrong Powered By Mach (Bruce Ranger) marched off quarters of :26.3, :55.2 and 1:24.1 with Newsy N (Ron Cushing) tracking from the pocket and Adashious Hanover (Brett Beckwith) moving first-over from fifth at the half.
Powered By Mach continued to lead her four pursuers at three-quarters and opened up a gap at the top of the stretch. But when the passing lane finally opened, Alittlesidehustl N had clear sailing to the line and shot through like a rocket to make up her personal 2-1/2-length deficit and win by one-quarter of a length in 1:53.2.
Overlooked at 4-1, Alittlesidehustl N claimed her 13th win of the year and yielded a $12 mutual to those who did back her. Kellogg Racing Stables and Jackie Greene Stables own the Greene trained four-year-old New Zealand imported daughter of Hes Watching who has now made $117,175 this year.
The co-featured $20,000 conditioned event for female pacers saw Skylar Hanover (Brett Beckwith) move first-over before the half to chase down the leading Mexican Hanover (Luke Hanners) up the backside and open up a two-length advantage by three-quarters. Skylar Hanover then circled the far turn and held off a late-closing Miss Trickster (Nick Graffam) and won by a half-length in 1:54.
It was the fourth straight win and 11th victory of the year for Skylar Hanover ($2.20), who now has $88,150 earned for owners Eric Walstrom and David De Martino. It was one of two winners for trainer Jimmy Nickerson, who tied with Bob Marston for top trainer during the afternoon.
Nick Graffam was the leading reinsman on Tuesday, winning a total of three races.
Racing resumes at Plainridge Park on Thursday (Nov. 10) with post time at 1 p.m.
(Standardbred Owners Of Massachusetts)