A pair of $34,247 top class events were carded at Plainridge Park on Tuesday (June 10) afternoon and despite some heavy rain that fell prior to the start, the track rated “good” did not affect the outstanding efforts by the eventual victors.
In the Winners-Over trot, the third time at Plainridge Park was the charm for Deadline Hall (Bruce Ranger) who led the field from start to finish.
Deadline Hall (pictured above) took a quick lead and seated Big Box Hanover (Nick Graffam) before the :26.3 quarter. From there, he stepped off fractions of :55.2 and 1:24.1 as Big Box Hanover stayed close and the rest of the field was slightly gapped behind. After rounding the last turn, Graffam tipped Big Box Hanover and took his best shot at the leader, but Deadline Hall had a date with the wire and made it across first by two lengths in 1:53, which was just one-fifth off his lifetime mark. Big Box Hanover held for second, with A New Leader (Mitch Cushing) finishing third.
Deadline Hall ($21.40) is owned by S&K Misfit Racing and VIP Internet Stable. The five-year-old gelded son of Muscle Mass-Daylon Mystique is trained by Amanda Kelley.
Then later in the Open pace for fillies and mares, Talk Curdy To Me (Brett Beckwith) took a similar path to victory and a new seasonal mark.
Talk Curdy To Me left fast and had a two length advantage over the pocket-sitting Swedish Starlet N (Matty Athearn) in :26.4. Talk Curdy To Me then got to the half in :55.4 when Turn The Page N (Ron Cushing) moved first-over and into contention. Turn The Page N moved up incrementally and was second on the rim at the 1:23.1 third quarter. When the race entered the stretch, Talk Curdy To Me still had the lead and held it down to the wire over the fast-closing Swedish Starlet N to win in 1:50.3 while Turn The Page N crossed the line in third.
Talk Curdy To Me ($10.00) is owned by Pollack Racing while Jeff Cullipher trains the five-year-old daughter of Betterthancheddar-Keepers Destiny.
Brett Beckwith was the leading driver on Tuesday posting three wins while Jeff Cullipher led all trainers with two tallies.
Live racing will resume at Plainridge Park on Thursday (June 12) at 4 p.m. and there will be a $4,478 USD carryover in the Wicked Hi-5 pentafecta in the sixth race.
(With files from the Standardbred Owners of Massachusetts)