Fresh off a lifetime best 1:52.2 effort at the Meadowlands on Saturday (July 8), Up The Alley made his first-ever trip to The Ridge and ended the five-race winning streak of Mambo Lindy by taking the $18,000 Open Handicap trotting feature at Plainridge Park on Tuesday (July 18).
Up The Alley (Mark Beckwith) left and maneuvered through rush hour traffic to get the lead and eventually set up shop on the front-end by the quarter in :27. Maintaining a full two-length buffer, he then dictated the tempo of the race while trailing horses were two deep trying to gain ground behind him.
The 1-9 post time favourite Mambo Lindy (Greg Merton) was sixth at the three-quarters and tipped three-wide around fading horses trying to catch the leader, but it was too late as the leader was running away. When the race hit the top of the stretch, Up The Alley had opened up six lengths and was pouring it on. Beckwith glanced over his left shoulder mid-stretch to make sure he was clear and then whistled to the wire in 1:53 by eight open lengths.
It was the fourth win in 10 starts this year for Up The Alley ($22.20) and it raised his 2017 earnings to $27,415 for owners Neal Oksenberg and Richard Silverman, who also trains the winner.
There was a pair of $12,000 co-features on Tuesday's card that produced some very game efforts.
In the sixth race, Shorething Fashion (Chris Long) took the lead, then got shuffled back to third before cutting loose down the lane and out-trotting Donomoni (Greg Merton) to the wire to win by a head in 1:55.2. It was the sixth win of the year and a new lifetime mark for Shorething Fashion ($14.20) who is owned by Mike Eaton and Bob McHugh. Eaton also trains the horse.
Then in race seven, Karets (Todd O’Dea) took a similar path to victory by taking an early lead before settling for a two-hole trip to the top of the stretch behind Prince Of Minto (Mark Beckwith). At that point Karets popped the deuce and stormed right by the leader to an easy two-length win in 1:55.4. Karets ($6.40) is owned and trained by James Cosenza.
With a carryover pool in excess of $15,000, the Wicked Hi-5 pentafecta in the sixth race produced the largest jackpot to date as one winner holding a 20-cent straight ticket on the combination of 6-1-8-3-7 cashed for $18,920.98.
Kevin Switzer Jr. and Todd O’Dea each registered a driving double on the card.
Live harness racing resumes at Plainridge Park on Thursday (July 20) with the first post set for 4:00 p.m.
(with files from the Standardbred Owners of Massachusetts)
As a young horse Alley loved
As a young horse Alley loved to work out anytime. He would circle the pasture several times a day at full speed just because he loved to go fast. Guess he still does!:)