After being put in perfect position early by driver Kevin Switzer Jr., Royally Hot finished strong and claimed her third win of the year in the featured $30,556 upper-level conditioned pace for fillies and mares at Plainridge Park on Monday (June 15) afternoon.
Remy Brown N (Brett Beckwith) set up shop on the point right off the gate with a commanding two length lead and :26 flat quarter. With Royally Hot (Kevin Switzer Jr.) sitting pretty in the pocket, Remy Brown N then paced unchallenged to the half in :53.4 and three-quarters in 1:22. That's where Switzer pulled Royally Hot and started to make up ground on the leader. Remy Brown N entered the stretch, still on top by a length, but Royally Hot incrementally made up that deficit and stuck a neck in front in the shadow of the wire to beat Remy Brown N and the late-closing Cindys Faith (Larry Stalbaum) in 1:51.2, tying her career best time.
Royally Hot ($3.60) is owned by Tim Tetrick of Woolwich Township, NJ. The four-year-old homebred daughter of Bettors Wish-McSauna is trained by Kevin Switzer.
In the undercard, $23,611 conditioned pace for female participants, Beantown Deuce (Brett Beckwith) traded leads with Moth Hunter A (Larry Stalbaum) and took control of the race, passing the :26.3 quarter. The field reached the half in :54.4 when Chakra (Matty Athearn) pulled from third and brushed alongside Beantown Deuce as the pair paced past three-quarters in 1:23.3. Chakra’s bid ended in the turn and Beantown Deuce entered the lane on top by a length and in full control, eventually crossing the line first in a lifetime best, 1:51.4.
The 12th lifetime win for Beantown Deuce ($3.00) pushed her lifetime earnings to $422,037, for owner Michael Goldberg Racing of Scituate, MA. Jesse McAssey trains the winning four-year-old daughter of Huntsville-Dont Think Twice A.
Kevin Switzer Jr. and Brett Beckwith both scored driving hat tricks on Monday while Andy Gardiner was the top trainer with a pair of winners during the afternoon.
Racing resumes at Plainridge Park on Tuesday (June 16) at 4 p.m.
(With files from the Standardbred Owners of Massachusetts; Photo of Royally Hot)