Another promising Australasian purchase has entered the Heidi Gibbs stable, and he paid instant dividends for his new connections. The Bird Dance N claimed his first North American pari-mutuel victory by winning the $22,500 Winners-Over Pace at Plainridge Park on Monday (July 26) in a lifetime-best effort.
Mitchell Cushing was back in town to drive The Bird Dance N and got away fifth from post four as General Ward (Jim Hardy), Bettors Fire N (Ron Cushing) and Lake Charles (Matty Athearn) all argued for the lead. After a quick :26.2 quarter, Bettors Fire N finally reached the lead, but No Quarter (Kevin Switzer Jr.) immediately pulled from fourth and rushed to the top before a :53.4 half.
The outside action remained fast and furious, as The Bird Dance N was out and rolling from fourth up the backstretch with Rollinlikethunder (Drew Monti) on his back. As the race approached three-quarters, The Bird Dance N took control. Rollinlikethunder drew even with No Quarter for second, but neither could gain on the leader as they rolled off the far turn into the stretch. Under Cushing’s urging, The Bird Dance N pulled away from the challengers, eventually winning by 2-1/2 lengths in 1:50.1, a new lifetime mark at one mile.
The six-year-old gelded son of A Rocknroll Dance and This Bird Has Flown was privately purchased by owner Scott McKenzie in Australia in June and was landed in the U. S. shortly after. He paid $5.00 to win.
The other top pace of the day was an upper-level conditioned pace that carried a purse of $20,000, and Blu Crew was the best by a good margin.
Driver Bruce Ranger put Blu Crew on the point off the gate and was never headed from there, throwing fractions of :26.3, :55.3 and 1:22.3 with only the mildest of challenges from Machiatto A (Shawn Gray), who left the pylons on the backstretch but didn't advance much. Seeing they were clear, Ranger and Blu Crew further gapped the field in the last turn and paced home alone to win by 4-1/4 lengths in 1:50.3.
Blu Crew ($5.80), who races for the M G Stable and trainer Melissa Beckwith, now has six wins this year.
Drivers Mitchell Cushing, Bruce Ranger and Kevin Switzer Jr. all had two wins each on Monday. Melissa Beckwith led all trainers with two wins as well.
Racing resumes at Plainridge Park on Thursday (July 29) with post time at 4 p.m.
(Plainridge Park)