Fresh off a two-week break, Swedish Starlet N returned to action and made every pole a winning one as she took the $24,658 Fillies and Mares Open II pacing feature at Plainridge Park on Tuesday afternoon, May 7.
Brett Beckwith sent Swedish Starlet N off the gate from post six to the lead as Racey Rach N (Mitchell Cushing) also left from mid-pack and dropped in second for the trip. After passing the quarter in quick :26.3, Beckwith backed off the second panel with Swedish Starlet N to :29.3, which prompted an outer-flow rush from her stablemate, Dandys Evrlasting (Matty Athearn), as they proceeded around turn two.
Heading up the backstretch, Dandys Evrlasting drew within a length of Swedish Starlet N while Racey Rach N stayed right on the leader's back as the clock stopped in 1:24.2 at three-quarters. Positions remained unchanged around the last turn and until they hit the stretch where Racey Rach N found room at the pegs and really got busy. Racey Rach N incrementally gained ground on Swedish Starlet N all the way down the lane, but Swedish Starlet N refused to lose and hung tight to victory by a nose in 1:52.3, which was a new lifetime mark.
Owned by Tim Bojarski and Tony Gruppo, Swedish Starlet N ($7.80) earned her fifth win of the year from 13 starts. Jimmy Nickerson trains the seven-year-old Mach Three mare.
Beckwith ended the day with a driving grand slam that included a natural hat trick in races eight, nine and 10. His other three winners were Mach Seelster (1:51.4, $9.40), Surreal Syrah (1:54.4, $7.60) and Wildcat Antonia (1:53, $2.80).
As good a day as Beckwith had, Kevin Switzer Jr.’s was one win better. Switzer drove five winners on the card, including Warrawee Yale, who won the undercard $23,288 conditioned pace for five-year-old and younger male pacers.
Warrawee Yale started from pylon position but got shuffled back to fourth before they entered the turn. When the top three had settled, Switzer pulled just before the :27 quarter and grabbed the lead as they passed under the wire the first time. Warrawee Yale then reached the half in :55.2 where Heart Of Rock (Shawn Gray) started pacing up the rim and moved into second at three-quarters. Heart Of Rock stayed close to Warrawee Yale around the final bend but when they straightened out for home, Warrawee Yale swelled up and paced away under no urging whatsoever from Switzer and won by 2-1/2 lengths in 1:51.4, which was a new lifetime mark.
Owned and trained by Gerald MacKenzie Jr., the four-year-old Captaintreacherous gelding Warrawee Yale ($2.80) earned his fourth straight win.
Switzer’s other four winners included Law Of Seven (1:53, $7), who is also trained by MacKenzie, Jo Pas Warrior (1:53.2, $2.20) and Seaside Tina (1:52.1, $3), who are both trained by Mark Eaton, and Hes Coming On (1:54.2, $19.20), who is trained by Zack Gray.
Racing resumes at Plainridge Park on Thursday, May 9 with post time at 4 p.m. and that card will feature a $2,729 carryover in the Wicked Hi-5 in race six.
(With files from Standardbred Owners of Massachusetts)