Plainridge Park has put together a panel of Hall of Fame and award-winning writers and handicappers in order to get their expert selections for the Spirit of Massachusetts Trot, Clara Barton Pace and Bert Beckwith Memorial Pace that will be held on Monday (July 25).
Post time for the first race is 4 p.m.
Gordon Waterstone – Hall of Fame – USTA Editorial Specialist
BERT BECKWITH MEMORIAL
ALWAYS A MIKI – He won more than $330,000 as a two-year-old with Dexter Dunn driving, including the Governor’s Cup at The Meadowlands, so being reunited with the two-time Driver of the Year should feel so good.
Pocket Of Terror A
Patrikthepiranha A
CLARA BARTON PACE
LYONS SENTINEL – Two-time Dan Patch divisional champ gets some much-needed post position relief and looks to be in prime position to get a great trip.
Blue Diamond Eyes
Racine Bell
SPIRIT OF MASSACHUSETTS TROT
LOVEDBYTHEMASSES – Only second start in nearly two months but should be fresh and ready and likely to moving forward fast out of the gate.
Incommunicado
Alrajah One IT
Ken Weingartner – Hall of Fame – USTA Media Relations Manager
BERT BECKWITH MEMORIAL
ALWAYS A MIKI – Was a stakes winner with Dexter Dunn in the past, starts inside top rivals here.
Patrikthepiranha A
Pocket Of Terror A
CLARA BARTON PACE
LYONS SENTINEL – Won last year’s Barton after entering two-for-eight off a fourth-place finish in the Haughton; déjà vu all over again?
Racine Bell
Amazing Dream N
SPIRIT OF MASSACHUSETTS TROT
FORBIDDEN TRADE – Lacked room in the stretch last time out and the draw shakes up this race, so taking a shot.
Alrajah One IT
Lovedbythemasses
Bob “Hollywood” Heyden – Hall Of Fame – Harness Racing Historian
BERT BECKWITH MEMORIAL
PATRIKTHEPIRANHA A – Has been favoured in six of his last seven starts and figures to be some value with the outside draw.
Always A Miki
Vel Mr Nice Guy
CLARA BARTON PACE
LYONS SENTINEL – Draws the pole and shakes loose from Test Of Faith. Great rebounding potential here.
Blue Diamond Eyes
Racine Bell
SPIRIT OF MASSACHUSETTS TROT
FORBIDDEN TRADE – Is more versatile than most of this field and will need it. ANY on the board finish and he’s the newest double millionaire (in USD earnings).
Alrajah One IT
Its Academic
Ken Warkentin – Meadowlands Racing Track Announcer – Voice of the Hambletonian
BERT BECKWITH MEMORIAL
ROCK DIAMONDS N – Nine-year-old warhorse seems to be trending in the right direction, just missed to Pocket Of Terror A last Monday, figures to get a speedy target and lively race flow.
Pocket Of Terror A
Sports Obsession
CLARA BARTON PACE
AMERICAN DREAM N – Much-heralded down-under import was a fast-finishing runner-up to Test Of Faith in a world record 1:47 Dorothy Haughton, can stalk the ample speed on view for 2021 U.S. Rising Star Todd McCarthy.
Racine Bell
Lyons Sentinel
SPIRIT OF MASSACHUSETTS TROT
FORBIDDEN TRADE – Came into the Crawford Farms off three in a row at Mohawk, had traffic issues and never fully shook loose; clear sailing puts this 2019 Hambo hero over $2 million (in USD earnings).
Alrajah One IT
Lovedbythemasses
Derick Giwner – DRF Harness Editor
BERT BECKWITH MEMORIAL
POCKET OF TERROR A – Is clearly sharp and should get a good pace to rally into.
Always A Miki
Vel Mr Nice Guy
CLARA BARTON PACE
RACINE BELL – Gets away from Test Of Faith this week.
Blue Diamond Eyes
Gia’s Surreal
SPIRIT OF MASSACHUSETTS TROT
ALRAJAH ONE IT – Finds a field loaded with early speed to set him up.
Lovedbythemasses
Eurobond
Dave Brower – Meadowlands Track Handicapper and Broadcast Personality
BERT BECKWITH MEMORIAL
PATRIKTHEPIRANHA A – Looks like the play in an absolutely outstanding renewal of the Beckwith Memorial. Even from post eight, any decent trip and he will be hard to deny.
Vel Mr Nice Guy
Always A Miki
CLARA BARTON PACE
RACINE BELL – Has been racing her eyeballs out lately, chasing the likes of Test Of Faith, etc. Her blast-out speed should get her to the front in the Clara Barton, where she likes to hear her hooves rattle. Jason Bartlett all the way.
Blue Diamond Eyes
Lyons Sentinel
SPIRIT OF MASSACHUSETTS TROT
LOVEDBYTHEMASSES – Will most likely be using the early speed tonight in the Spirit of Massachusetts, even from that outside post. He’s been sharp all year and must get the jump on Alrajah One. Timmy T is smart.
Forbidden Trade
Alrajah One
Brett Sturman – Harness Racing Update Columnist
BERT BECKWITH MEMORIAL
POCKET OF TERROR A – Went first-over last week into blistering fractions and lived to tell about it; wins if that good again.
Sports Obsession
Patrikthepiranha A
CLARA BARTON PACE
RACINE BELL – Used hard early in that 1:47 mile won by Test Of Faith last weekend, looks to blaze the way despite the outside post.
Blue Diamond Eyes
Amazing Dream N
SPIRIT OF MASSACHUSETTS TROT
ALRAJAH ONE IT – The latest Svanstedt import who already has the look of a killer from just his lone start in North America.
Lovedbythemasses
Forbidden Trade
Garnet Barnsdale – DRF Harness and Ontario Racing Handicapper
BERT BECKWITH MEMORIAL
ALWAYS A MIKI – Is improving and he picks up the best driver in the world for this; top call.
Patrikthepiranha A
Sports Obsession
CLARA BARTON PACE
LYONS SENTINEL – Has drawn perfectly to stalk the speed drawn outside and she should roll past late.
Racine Bell
Blue Diamond Eyes
SPIRIT OF MASSACHUSETTS TROT
ALARAJAH ONE IT – Produced a devastating late kick in his North American debut. He is the one to beat.
Forbidden Trade
Lovedbythemasses
Lenny Calderone – Plainridge Park Track Announcer
BERT BECKWITH MEMORIAL
PATRIKTHEPIRANHA A – Has been rock solid all season long; in top hands and gets the edge despite outside draw.
Always A Miki
Pocket Of Terror A
CLARA BARTON PACE
RACINE BELL – Has keen early speed and will most likely be flying from the start; classy miss can prove best in highly competitive Barton.
Lyons Sentinel
Blue Diamond Eyes
SPIRIT OF MASSACHUSETTS TROT
ALRAJAH ONE IT – Trotted home in :25.3 to score upset in first start of year at Meadowlands on July 2; six-year-old appears to be a force to be dealt with off his season’s debut and gets a very slight nod over well-balanced Spirit match-up.
Lovedbythemasses
Incommunicado
Tim Bojarski – Plainridge Park Racing Media Relations
BERT BECKWITH MEMORIAL
POCKET OF TERROR A – Has been stout in his two Plainridge outings and should have a stiff pace to stalk here.
Always A Miki
Sports Obsession
CLARA BARTON PACE
LYONS SENTINEL – Defending champ had draw line up perfect. Look for a repeat of last year.
Blue Diamond Eyes
Racine Bell
SPIRIT OF MASSACHUSETTS TROT
ALRAJAH ONE IT – You can’t overlook his North American debut and any performance close to that this day makes him the one to beat.
Lovedbythemasses
Eurobond
(Plainridge Park)