After finishing second three consecutive times since coming to Plainridge Park, Mrs Cheese was not to be denied on Monday (June 8) as she won the $30,556 Distaff Pacing feature with a career-best effort.
Drew Monti sent Mrs Cheese (pictured above) to the point and reached the quarter in :27.1. It was there that Miss Idaho A (Nick Graffam) charged quickly and blitzed the leader to the half in :55. But shortly after that threat arose, it was turned away by Mrs Cheese, who stayed on task and looked strong on the backstretch.
As the race made its way into turn three, the pocket-sitting Judge Me Again (Mitchell Cushing) pulled and took her best shot at catching Mrs Cheese. Judge Me Again drew to with a length as they entered the stretch, but it was Acushla Machree N (Matty Athearn) who found room at the pegs and pushed hard against Mrs. Cheese to the line. However Mrs Cheese refused to lose and won by a head in 1:51.4 to take a new lifetime mark. Royally Hot (Kevin Switzer Jr.) got up for third, 1-1/4 lengths back of the winner.
It was the fifth win of the year for Mrs Cheese ($4.20), who is owned by Kellogg Racing of Queensbury, NY and Jackie Greene of Fort Ann, NY. Greene who also trains the winning four-year-old daughter of American Ideal-Ms Cheesman.
Mrs Cheese was one of four wins on the card for Monti, who just achieved his 3,000th driving win this past Saturday. Monti also scored with Yama Gonna Win (1:54.3, $3.80), Waterfront (1:51.3, $12.00) and Arya Blue Chip (1:53.3, $7.00), who all registered lifetime marks in victory.
There was a major upset in the secondary featured $23,611 conditioned pace for fillies and mares was won by the 99-1 shot, One Eyed Delilah.
One Eyed Delilah (John Nason) got away sixth as the heavily-backed Seaside Tina (Mitchell Cushing) was leading the field to the half in :55. But right after Chakra (Matty Athearn) pulled first-over in front of the stands, One Eyed Delilah picked up his cover and followed to three-quarters. About halfway through the last turn, Nason tipped One Eyed Delilah three-deep around Chakra and took aim at Seaside Tina. The two mares matched strides all the way to the wire where One Eyed Delilah stuck her head in front and won in 1:52.2, which was a new lifetime mark.
It was the third win this year for One Eyed Delilah ($292.20), who is owned by George Fenno III of Bell, FL and Derryl Niles Jr. of St. Albans, ME, who also trains the winner.
Early in his career, John Nason, now 70, drove the legendary New England Grand Circuit champion pacer Mountain Skipper three times back in the 1970’s and won all three. Those wins were taken at Foxboro Park, Rockingham Park and the Fryeburg Fair, where he paced in 1:59.4 and became the first ever sub-2:00 Standardbred in Maine. Mountain Skipper, who was bred, owned and trained by John's father, Art Nason, won 45 lifetime races, earned $304,376 in purses during his career and was named the North American Horse of the Year in 1973 by the United States Harness Writers Association.
Racing resumes at Plainridge Park on Tuesday (June 9) at 4 p.m. and there will be a $42,622 USD carryover in the Wicked Hi-5 pentafecta wager in the sixth race.
(With files from the Standardbred Owners of Massachusetts)