A lightning fast racing surface and a 92-degree temperature at first race post set the stage for some exceedingly fast miles at Plainridge Park on Thursday afternoon, June 5. And the fastest was millionaire Fourever Boy, who posted the track's first sub-1:50 mile of the year when winning the featured $34,247 Open Handicap Pace.
Driver Brett Beckwith got away fifth with Fourever Boy as Lifes A Puzzle (Nick Graffam) took no prisoners in :25.4 and :54.1 to the half. At that point, Beckwith had Fourever Boy first-over in the breeze fifth, but hanging as the third panel blistered in :26.3 with Lifes A Puzzle still calling the shots at the 1:20.4 three-quarters.
Heading into the last turn, the pocket-sitting Heinikin Bythebay (Kevin Switzer Jr.) pulled and bolted alongside Lifes A Puzzle, leaving Pirate Hanover (Aaron Byron) behind the leader while favourite Rocknroll Runa A (Bruce Ranger) moved into contention and Fourever Boy found clear road three-wide around the bunching group.
In the lane, there was a wall of horses four across with Fourever Boy widest of all and pacing up a storm. Fourever Boy took the lead in deep stretch and won by three-quarters of a length in 1:49.3. Pirate Hanover was the runner-up with Solesseo Matuca A (Matthew Athearn) closing from the backfield for third.
The time was Fourever Boy’s fastest win clocking since July of 2023 when he went his lifetime best 1:48.2 mile at Scioto Downs.
Fourever Boy, a six-year-old son of Sweet Lou and Macharoundtheclock, is trained by Melissa Beckwith and owned by Micki Rae Stables. A winner of three of his last five starts at Plainridge, he was sent postward as the slight second choice and paid $5.60 to win. The victory was his 21st lifetime.
In the secondary featured $26,027 upper-level conditioned pace, favourite Vintage Cheddar N scored his second straight win after moving driver Mitchell Cushing moved him first-over from fifth following a :54 half set by Renaissance Deo (Bruce Ranger) and made his way into contention in the final turn and chasing the leading Grey Horizon (Drew Monti). After going three-wide around that entire bend, Vintage Cheddar N caught Grey Horizon and then out-paced the very fast closing Southwind Sandor (Brett Beckwith) to win by a nose in 1:50.2, paying $4.80. The 10-year-old Betterthancheddar-Howfarnow gelding is owned by his trainer, Amanda Kelley, in partnership with VIP Internet Stable.
Drivers Matty Athearn, Mitchell Cushing and Shawn Gray, along with trainer Amanda Kelley, all scored two wins apiece during the afternoon.
Live harness racing will resume at Plainridge Park on Friday, June 6 at 4 p.m.
(With files from Standardbred Owners of Massachusetts)