A pair of $23,944 condition races topped the bill at Plainridge Park on Monday (July 20) and both gaits were beneficiaries of those respective purses.
First in the trot, Alamo Mission (Brett Beckwith) got away fourth as Bill Bauer (Nick Graffam) took the lead at the :27 quarter and continued to dictate fractions to three-quarters. It was there that Alamo Mission was rolling outside in the breeze and trotted adjacent to Bill Bauer as the race made its way through the turn. When the field turned for home, Alamo Mission pulled ahead and held off the field to the line where he won by a length in 1:53.4. Bill Bauer was second, with Wall Street Edge (Jay Randall) third.
It was the first win of the year for Alamo Mission ($4.60) who is owned by Greathorse of Hampden, MA. Domenico Cecere trains the five-year-old Walner-Adios Lindy gelding.
Then later in the pace, a three-horse, three-wide dash to the quarter resulted in three lead changes that finally saw Beantown Ace (Mitchell Cushing) settled on the lead and once she got there, she got it all her way. Beantown Ace reached the half in :53.4 and three-quarters in 1:21.2 and extended her lead to four lengths. After rounding the turn, Beantown Ace paced clear to the line where she won by two lengths in 1:51.1, tying her lifetime mark. Windydayatthebeach (Kevin Switzer Jr.) was second, with Pembroke Southie (Brett Beckwith) third.
Beantown Ace ($4.60) is owned by Michael Goldberg Racing of Scituate, MA, with the five-year-old daughter of Captain Crunch-Ace Of Pace trained by Bethany Graffam.
The Massachusetts-bred three-year-old trotting filly Adios My Lindy (Brett Beckwith) won her fourth consecutive race at Plainridge on Monday by taking the lead at the quarter and never looking back in a 1:54.1 victory. Adios My Lindy ($4.20) is owned by Kelley Lamont Racing of Lake Worth, FL, Go For Glory Stable of Metuchen, NJ, Thomas Pontone of Holmdel, NJ, and VIP Internet Stable of Piscataway, NY, and trained by Paul Kelley.
Adios My Lindy will be competing on the $3.2 million USD (est.) Massachusetts Breeders Stakes which begins on Monday, September 28.
Mitchell Cushing led all drivers on Monday with a hat trick at the lines while Jimmy Nickerson’s two winners topped all trainers.
There will be no racing at The Ridge on Tuesday (July 21). Racing will resume at Plainridge Park on Monday (July 20) at 4 p.m.
(With files from The Standardbred Owners of Massachusetts; Photo of Alamo Mission)