Looking every bit in mid-season form, Side Piece racked up her second consecutive win at Plainridge Park after taking the $34,722 Open Handicap Pace for fillies and mares on Tuesday, May 6.
Side Piece and driver Drew Monti left and dropped in third as favourite Lady Saturn (Brett Beckwith) parked Swedish Starlet N (Matty Athearn) to the quarter in :26.1 over the rain-soaked, sloppy track. Swedish Starlet N then took the field to the :56 half where Monti tipped Side Piece and advanced quickly towards the leader.
When the field straightened out on the backstretch, Side Piece cleared Swedish Starlet N, crossed over approaching three-quarters in 1:23 and was in full control at the station. After building up a widening margin in front, Side Piece paced home under wraps to win by 4-1/2 lengths in 1:51.1, which was a seasonal mark. Lady Saturn finished second and Waitforever N (Shawn Gray) got third over Swedish Starlet N.
Side Piece ($6.80), a five-year-old Shadow Play-Queen Otra mare, is owned by Janie Kellogg and trained by Jackie Greene.
Later in the $23,611 conditioned event for five-year-olds and under, Swifty Run (Bruce Ranger) led to the quarter before pocketing-up behind Digging For Gold (Nick Graffam), who dashed and passed the leader before the half. Digging For Gold continued on the point to three-quarters, where Swifty Run tipped and drew alongside the leader as they rounded the turn. In the stretch, Swifty Run matched strides with Digging For Gold before pulling ahead by one-half length for the win in 1:51, which was a new career mark.
Swifty Run ($4.60) is owned by John Barnard and trained by Irwin Rosenthal.
Drivers Mitchell Cushing, Shawn Gray and Bruce Ranger won two races apiece while 11 different trainers each claimed one victory during the afternoon.
Racing resumes at Plainridge Park on Thursday, May 8 at 4 p.m.
(With files from Standardbred Owners of Massachusetts)