Acushla Machree N turned a perfect trip into a lifetime mark, winning the featured $30,986 conditioned distaff pace at Plainridge Park on Monday afternoon, June 22.
Acushla Machree N, driven by Matty Athearn, got away fifth as Gowestyounggrace (Kevin Switzer Jr.) and Arizona (Brett Beckwith) battled for the front, which Arizona eventually gained as they passed the quarter in :26.4. Arizona then reached the half in a stiff :54.4 and greeted Beantown Deuce (Nick Graffam), who had moved first-over and brought Acushla Machree N on her back.
Beantown Deuce paced alongside Arizona to three-quarters in 1:23 and then around the far turn, where she pulled ahead for the lead as they headed for home. Beantown Deuce took an open-length lead into the stretch, where Athearn tipped Acushla Machree N to the middle of the track and she reeled in Beantown Deuce before pulling ahead by a head to win in a career best 1:51.2. Gowestyounggrace held for the third position.
The win was the first of the year in 16 starts for the seven-year-old daughter of Vincent-Annie Morva. Acushla Machree N is trained by Gretchen Athearn and owned by Ray Campbell Jr. of Belchertown, Massachusetts. She paid $9 to win.
Later in the $23,943 conditioned pace for fillies and mares, One Eyed Delilah and Jay Randall got away fifth early as favourite Seaside Tina (Brett Beckwith) put up fast fractions of :26.4 and :55.2. As the field entered the backside, Randall moved One Eyed Delilah first-over, flew past Seaside Tina and opened up a two-length lead at three-quarters in 1:23.4 as Quarrel (Nick Graffam) gave chase. One Eyed Delilah maintained her advantage from the top of the stretch while holding off Quarrel and the late-closing Windydayatthebeach (Kevin Switzer Jr.) to win by a neck in 1:52.3.
One Eyed Delilah is owned by George Fenno of Bell, Florida in partnership with her trainer, Derryl Niles Jr. of St. Albans, Maine. She returned $28.60 for the upset win.
As one of the top drivers at Plainridge Park, Kevin Switzer Jr. is normally bet quite heavily on a day-to-day basis. However, that did not happen today as he lit up the board in consecutive races. Switzer won with Meadowbrook Flash in the seventh race and paid $62.80. And just when you thought it couldn't get any better, only one race later, Switzer won again with Trelicious and returned $89.80. Those two wins also made Switzer the leading reinsman on Monday.
Racing resumes at Plainridge Park on Tuesday, June 23 at 4 p.m. and there will be a $6,236 USD carryover in the Wicked Hi-5 pentafecta wager in the sixth race.
(With files from the Standardbred Owners of Massachusetts)