Getting substantial class relief this week, Intothemysticmoon turned a late rally into a narrow margin of victory in the $27,397 mid-level conditioned event for fillies and mares at Plainridge Park on Thursday, July 24.
Intothemysticmoon (Nick Graffam) sat second and drafted behind Seaside Tina (Mitchell Cushing), who made her way to the front passing the quarter in :26.3. With the field single-file, Seaside Tina paced with a two-length advantage to the half in :54.3 and extended her cushion en route to three-quarters in 1:22.1, after which Intothemysticmoon edged closer heading through the last turn.
As the race entered the stretch, Seaside Tina was still on top by 1-1/2 lengths with Intothemysticmoon moving to the outside and the rest of the field arguing for minor spoils. Heading down the lane, Seaside Tina was still leading, but needed the line, and Intothemysticmoon did the better work late and got in front by a head under the shadow of the wire in 1:50.4, just a fifth of a second off her lifetime mark. Beantown Ace (Aaron Byron) finished third.
The 18th career win for Intothemysticmoon ($5.40) pushed her career bankroll to $481,351 in 90 starts. Joseph Nelson trains the six-year-old daughter of Artspeak-Mystical Moon for owners Burke Racing Stable LLC, Weaver Bruscemi LLC, and Phil Collura.
Brett Beckwith led all drivers with three wins on Thursday while Conor Brewer topped all trainers with two wins.
Due to technical difficulties affecting the pari-mutuels, the final two races of the afternoon were non-betting and contested for purse only.
Live racing will resume at Plainridge Park on Monday at 4 p.m., and there will be a carryover of $1,282 in the Wicked Hi-5 in the sixth race.
(Standardbred Owners of Massachusetts)