Swedish Starlet N brought her “A” game to Plainridge Park on Tuesday afternoon, May 28 and went gate to wire in the $27,397 Fillies and Mares Open Handicap Pace, taking a new lifetime mark in the process.
Matty Athearn left like a shot with Swedish Starlet N and led the girls to the quarter in :26.3. The field remained in single file until Booraa N (Ron Cushing) pulled first-over and advanced on the backstretch. After passing three-quarters in 1:24, Swedish Starlet N turned back Booraa N’s challenge, but still had the tripping Alittlesidehustle N (Drew Campbell) to deal with. As they straightened for home, Alittlesidehustle N moved out to challenge, but Swedish Starlet N was up to the task and paced home on top by three lengths in 1:52.1, which was a new career best.
Owned by Tim Bojarski and Tony Gruppo and trained by Jimmy Nickerson, the seven-year-old Mach Three mare Swedish Starlet N ($9.60) earned her sixth win of the year from 15 starts.
The victory was the third driving win of the day for Athearn and second training win of the card for Nickerson.
In a $23,288 conditioned pace for five-year-olds and under, Premier Rocker (Matty Athearn) got away sixth as 52-1 shot Heart Of Rock (Bruce Ranger) tripped the clocks at :27.3, :56.1 and 1:23.3 at three-quarters. But positions soon changed as Athearn tipped Premier Rocker from third-over in the turn to the middle of the track in the stretch. From there, Premier Rocker bolted to the front by two lengths to take the win in 1:51.4, which was a new lifetime mark. Premier Rocker ($9.40) is owned by Milton Vickerson and trained by Zachary Vickerson.
Kevin Switzer Jr. joined Athearn with three driving wins on Tuesday while Zach Gray matched Nickerson with two training victories.
Racing resumes at Plainridge Park on Thursday, May 30 with post time at 4 p.m.
(Standardbred Owners of Massachusetts)