After dropping out of the Mares Open at Plainridge Park last week, Caviart Caterina took advantage of a bit softer spot and won the $14,000 distaff conditioned pacing feature at The Ridge on Friday (July 21) despite being sorely overlooked by the betting public.
Caviart Caterina (Michael Stevenson) left and wanted the lead but her effort was vigorously rebuffed by Golden Idol (Eddie Davis Jr.), who forced her to seat before the quarter in :26.1. Although she didn’t get her way there, it all worked out in the end as she followed Golden Idol while she executed a dynamic itinerary of leading the girls to the half in :55.3 and the three-quarters in 1:23.1.
As the field stacked up two-deep behind her, Golden Idol continued to motor around the last turn but Caviart Caterina had a clear path to pull halfway through it and Stevenson made his move right then. Caviart Caterina drew alongside Golden Idol and the two matched strides all the way down the lane with their respective drivers rocking and knocking. When the pair hit the wire, Caviart Caterina got up in the nick of time to win by a nose in 1:52.3, which was a new seasonal mark.
The win was the ninth in 21 starts this year for Caviart Caterina ($25.80) and it raised her earnings to $70,465 for owner Joe Pisarski. The five-year-old daughter of Tell All is trained by Robert Marston.
In the co-featured $12,000 conditioned pacing event, it took Lindy Beach (Greg Merton) over a quarter of a mile to get the lead but when he did the party was over. Lindy Beach backed down the second panel to :29.1 before sprinting home in :27.1 while opening up a five-length margin of victory at the wire in 1:52.3.
It was the first start and win of the year for Lindy Beach ($2.40), who is owned by Lindy Farms of Connecticut and Frank Baldassare. The winner is trained by Frank Antonacci.
Steve Nason and Greg Merton each had two winners on the card.
Racing resumes at Plainridge Park on Monday (July 24) at 4 p.m. That card kicks off a huge week of racing at Plainridge capped off with the $250,000 Spirit of Massachusetts Trot on Friday (July 28) that will feature the best aged trotters in North America.
(Standardbred Owners of Massachusetts)