The 20-year-old track record for aged pacing geldings at Plainridge Park was re-written when My Pal Joe, driven by Shawn Gray, turned in a convincing 1:49.2 mile in the featured $27,397 conditioned pace on Monday afternoon (April 29).
My Pal Joe got away fourth as Skyway Victor (Kevin Switzer Jr.) flew to the quarter on the point in :26.3. But Gray was not content in that spot and pulled quickly while passing the stands and took control of the race before the :54.3 half. From there, Skyway Victor tried to keep up in the pocket while the rest of the field could only watch from farther back as My Pal Joe posted back-to-back :27.2 panels before crossing the wire on top by 2-1/2 lengths in 1:49.2, setting the new track record and giving the winner a season’s best timing.
The former record of 1:49.3 was set in 2004 by Chewy Gross and matched in 2008 by Psiluvheartbreaker.
The win was the third of the year from 10 starts for My Pal Joe ($6.40), who is owned by United Process Control and trained by Alicia Gray.
Brett Beckwith, who is North America’s second leading dash driver, led all drivers at Plainridge on Monday after having a grand slam in the bike, led by Alex Having Fun ($5.60), who won the $23,287 secondary pacing feature.
Alex Having Fun took a lot of air from sixth in pursuit of the front-running Anvil Hands (Jimmy Hardy), who was a strong leader through three-quarters in 1:23.1. Alex Having Fun kept grinding in the breeze as they rounded the final turn and headed towards the line and got there first by a neck in 1:51.1, which was a new seasonal mark for the gelding that is owned and trained by Kimberly Vafiades.
Beckwith also won with Ace Of Aces (1:51.2, $5.80), Sofer (1:53.3, $4.40) and Gabe Hanover (1:52.1, $2.80) to give him a total of 18 wins in only seven cards of racing at Plainridge so far this year.
Racing resumes at Plainridge Park on Tuesday, April 30 with post time at 4 p.m. and the card will feature a $3,131 carryover in the Wicked Hi-5 in race six.
(Plainridge Park)