With six out of 10 contests stopping the clock in 1:51 and change on Monday (June 25) over the lightning-fast Plainridge Park oval, it was hard to tell which race was the feature. However Quick Shot and J J S Jet absconded with the bulk of the booty in the top pacing events on Monday afternoon while the red-hot Drew Campbell directed both horses to victory.
In the top billed $14,000 Winners-Over pace, Mysharona Bluechip (Nick Graffam) took his regular spot on top while Quick Shot settled in third. After speeding to the quarter in :26.2, Graffam slowed the second panel to :29, forcing an outer flow to come and chase that pedestrian split.
When Some Attitude (Jim Hardy) led the outside rush, Mysharona Bluechip hit the gas and flew to the three-quarters in 1:22.2 with a :27 panel. This left Quick Shot locked in fifth behind tiring horses and looking like he was out of it. But when they got to the top of the lane, One To Draw To (Shawn Gray) pulled to the outside, leaving the pylon lane open, giving Campbell his chance. He ducked Quick Shot between the cones and Mysharona Bluechip and closed like a bullet to catch the leader at the wire by a nose in 1:51.
The winning time was a new seasonal mark for Quick Shot ($4.80) and only two-fifths of a second off his lifetime mark taken at Plainridge Park in 2016.
Owned by Kathleen Brewer and trained by John Bowman, Quick Shot now has five wins and $51,860 made for 2018.
The secondary featured $12,000 conditioned pace hosted a field that contained some horses who already competed in the top class here this year and provided a wide-open event.
Even-money fan favourite Hickory Icon (Greg Merton) came in riding a two-race winning streak and went to the front trying to make it three. When no one wanted to challenge heading to the half in :55.1, Campbell pulled J J S Jet from fifth and decided to haul the mail himself. Coming first up, J J S Jet used the back straight and a :27.4 third quarter to draw within a neck of Hickory Icon and then paced with him stride for stride around the final bend.
When they straightened out at the head of the lane the classy nine-year-old J J S Jet drew on the heart that won him 44 lifetime starts to date and dug in hard to pace by Hickory Icon in mid-stretch while also fending off a late challenge mounted by Moonlight Artist (Mitchell Cushing) to win by a neck in 1:51.3, which was a new seasonal mark and just one-fifth off his lifetime best.
J J S Jet ($7.20) scored his 45th lifetime win for owner Bruce Maxwell and trainer James Dunn.
The second leg of the “2007 Sox” $10,000 claiming series saw SB Mikes Hot Beach (Steve Nason) sit the perfect pocket trip behind Grand Gallop Semalu (Drew Campbell) until he pulled at the top of the stretch and paced strongly by the leader to win by a length in 1:51.1, which was a new lifetime mark.
SB Mikes Hot Beach ($9.20) scored his first win for his new owners Nicole Hardy and Archie Mc Neil who purchased him privately on June 15.
The seventh race saw a rare occurrence when a double dead heat was registered after the judges viewed the photos. Western Victory (Wally Watson) and BP Diet Food (Mitchell Cushing) tied for third while Commondiscourtesy (Mike Stevenson) and Low Card (Shawn Gray) could not be separated for fifth. It’s also interesting to note that Soho Jackman A (Drew Campbell) and BJs Guy (Nick Graffam) hit the wire a mere nose apart for the win as the six horses crossed the wire in three tight pairs.
Drew Campbell led all drivers with a trio of wins on Monday while Steve Nason and Nick Graffam each had a double.
Racing resumes at Plainridge Park on Tuesday afternoon with post time set for 4 p.m.
(Standardbred Owners of Massachusetts)