The B.C. bred stakes mare Side Piece has spent her time in the states lately racing in Plainridge Park, just outside of Boston, Massachusetts, and on Monday (July 22), the Shadow Play - Queen Otra mare won her third $29,397 Fillies and Mares Open Handicap Pace at the Plainville oval.
Off the gate, Seaside Tina (Kevin Switzer Jr.) turned back an early challenge from Swedish Starlet N (Matty Athearn) who pocketed-up at the quarter in :25.3. At this point in the mile, Side Piece (Drew Monti) was fifth. With the field in single file, Seaside Tina continued to smoke to the half in :53.4 and then moved onto the backstretch poised for the next challenge.
That came from Swedish Starlet N, who vacated the garden spot and took aim at the leader. Seaside Tina and Swedish Starlet N paced side by side to three-quarters in 1:21.4 and continued to battle around the far turn and into the stretch, while Side Piece was sixth and fourth-over on the outside. Swedish Starlet N finally took the lead as they straightened for home, but Monti shook loose with Side Piece and was pacing furiously down the center of the track. Swedish Starlet N fought hard to the line but Side Piece nipped her by a head in the photo timed in 1:52.
The feature triumph was the seventh win of the year for Side Piece ($7.80) who is owned by Janie Kellogg and trained by Jackie Greene.
Monti rounded out his grand slam as a result of a natural hat trick in the first three races with Mikis Finest (1:55, $4.60), Quentin Quarantino (1:53.2, $4.20) and CBF Fin (1:55, $3.20).
In the secondary featured $20,548 conditioned pace for five-year-olds and under, Caviart Justice (Bruce Ranger) put in quite an effort on the front end, setting fractions of :27.2, :55.4 and 1:22.4 before rounding the last turn and kicking away to a 5-1/2 length, 1:51.2 victory that gave the colt a new lifetime mark.
Caviart Justice ($3.80) is owned by Caviart Farms and Christina Takter and is trained by Domenico Cecere.
There is no racing at Plainridge Park on Tuesday (July 23) this week due to the Spirit of Massachusetts card on Sunday. Live racing resumes at The Ridge on Thursday (July 25) with post time at 4 p.m.
(With files from Standardbred Owners of Massachusetts)