Since coming to Massachusetts from Ohio’s Miami Valley Raceway, No Quarter has been a formidable foe finishing second and first in two starts. But on Thursday, the son of Somebeachsomewhere-Take That Hanover really swelled up and re-wrote the Plainridge Park record book for four-year-old pacing horses by scorching the Plainville oval in 1:49.2, displacing the 21-year-old standard of 1:49.3 set by Space Shuttle in 2000.
No Quarter (Shawn Gray) left like a runaway freight train and then disregarded the field once he took control. After getting to the half in: 55.1, Gray gave No Quarter his head and he really got to work. He opened up four lengths by the three-quarters in a sizzling :26.3 split, extended that lead to eight lengths at the top of the stretch and then just annihilated the competition by opening up a 14-1/2 length gap in the :27.3 final quarter to stop the clock in 1:49.2.
The time not only set the aforementioned track record, it was also a new lifetime mark for No Quarter by two-fifth’s of a second and is now the fastest pacing mile of the 2021 Plainridge meet.
After the race, driver Shawn Gray simply stated: “He had his game face on today.”
It was the second win in only seven starts this year for No Quarter ($12.60) and it pushed his bankroll to $25,400 this year for owner Scheigert Racing. Amanda Kelley trains the record breaker.
Much like No Quarter, Gray also brought game on Thursday as he ended up with a driving Grand Slam on the card. He won with Leave And Roll (1:56.1, $2.40) and Rightfully Mine (1:53.1, $4.40) to take both halves of the Daily Double (6-1 $5.60) and then later won two more consecutive races with No Quarter and Salvadors Sun (1:54, $14.20). Gray currently sits second among all Plainridge drivers for wins, behind Bruce Ranger.
Three state-bred three-year-old pacing fillies who will compete in the Massachusetts Sire Stakes later this year looked very impressive in some early season starts made on Thursday.
Rightfully Mine (American Ideal-Leah) took a new lifetime mark going 1:53.1 in gate to wire fashion in her season’s debut. Owned by Anthony Scussel and her breeder Monique Cohen, the Sheena McElhiney-trained Rightfully Mine ($4.40) pushed her lifetime earnings to $113,812.
McElhiney also sent Seafood Sweetheart (American Ideal-Seafood Annie) to a gate to wire, three-length romp in 1:53.4 and also take a new lifetime mark in her first outing of the year. Seafood Sweetheart ($2.80) was bred and is owned by the Seafood Delight Stable.
Finally, So Amazing (So Surreal-Teddy Ballgirl) continued to take advantage of the speed-favouring track by also leading at every station to score a convincing 2-1/2 length win in 1:53.3, which was only two-fifth’s off her lifetime best. It was the second win in three 2021 starts for So Amazing ($2.80) who is owned by Nancy and Dominic Longobardi, who also bred the George Ducharme trained filly.
This year the Massachusetts Sire Stakes begin on Sunday (September 26) and conclude on Monday (Oct. 25).
Racing resumes at Plainridge Park on Friday (May 21) with post time at 4 p.m.
(Standardbred Owners of Massachusetts)