A pair of $34,722 tilts topped the card at Plainridge Park on Tuesday, May 13 and the winners of both events took new lifetime marks as a result of their impressive performances.
First, in the Fillies & Mares Open Handicap Pace, Taking The Miki A (pictured above) followed live cover en route to victory.
Swedish Starlet N (Matty Athearn) took the lead from Seaside Tina (Walter Case Jr.) past the :26 quarter before Seaside Tina came right back to lead at the half in :55.1. It was there that Side Piece (Drew Monti) pulled first-over and provided the draft for Taking The Miki A (Brett Beckwith), who followed her to three-quarters in 1:22.1 until Side Piece finally cleared the front. In the turn, Taking The Miki A drew alongside the leading Side Piece and the pair paced together through deep stretch where Taking The Miki A pulled away by 1-1/4 lengths to win in 1:51.1. Waitforever N (Shawn Gray) closed for third.
Taking The Miki A ($10.60), a seven-year-old daughter of Always B Miki out of All American Dream, is trained by Jeff Cullipher and owned by Pollack Racing.
Then later, things broke Morning Edition’s way in the Winners Over Handicap Trot where he scored his first win at The Ridge.
Victor Laszlo (Jimmy Hardy) took a quick lead from his pylon position start and marched through strong quarters of :27, :56.1 and 1:23.4 while Morning Edition (Shawn Gray) followed intently from second. As the race headed into the final turn, Victor Laszlo broke stride, leaving Morning Edition a clear lane heading into the stretch. With Sea Can (Nick Graffam) challenging him on the outside as they headed for home, Morning Edition stretched out to a two-length win in 1:53.1. Sea Can finished second and Four Sixes (Bruce Ranger) was third.
Morning Edition ($21.80), a five-year-old son of Walner out of Morning Glow, is trained by Alicia Gray and owned by Mark Jakubik and Douglas Overhiser.
Brett Beckwith led all drivers with three wins on Tuesday while trainer Jeff Cullipher sent two from his stable to the winner's enclosure.
Racing resumes at Plainridge Park on Thursday, May 15 at 4 p.m. and there will be a $5,632 USD carryover in the sixth race Wicked Hi-5 pentafecta. On Thursday, Plainridge will host the Grade 3 $100,000 USD Bunker Hill three-year-old trot, which is a Grand Circuit event.
(With files from Standardbred Owners of Massachusetts)