Conditions were perfect for speed at Plainridge Park on Monday (July 27) afternoon and the participants of some of the feature races put in career efforts to claim their victories.
Taking full advantage of a perfect trip, Major Hothooves N registered a new lifetime mark after winning the $30,986 Trackmaster pace.
Brett Beckwith settled Major Hothooves N in third and watched as Wild Bill Wyatt (Nick Graffam) parked Lifes A Puzzle to the quarter in :25.4 before the latter finally pocketed-up for the journey. Wild Bill Wyatt then passed the half in :54.3 before turning up the backstretch. That's where Beckwith tipped Major Hothooves N from third, made his way to second on the outside at three-quarters and then edged to the front at the top of the stretch. As they made their way home, Major Hothooves N pulled away by a length and held off the fast-closing Confederate Star N (Matty Athearn) to win by a length in 1:50.2 to lower his record. Wild Bill Wyatt held for third.
Major Hothooves N ($4.60) is owned by Pollack Racing of Venetia, PA, and trained by Enrico Robinson. It was the third win of the season for the six-year-old Art Major-Hothooves gelding.
There were also two $28,169 upper-level paces on the card.
In the first, Mydadsaid A rallied late to take his new sub-1:50 career mark.
Alex Having Fun (Matty Athearn) and Mydadsaid A (Drew Monti) lined up one-two passing the :26.2 quarter and remained that way to the :55.1 half. But at that station, Rockin On Venus (Bruce Ranger) advanced from fifth and took the lead on the backstretch. Rockin On Venus opened up a gapped advantage as he paced around the far turn while Mydadsaid A was locked along the pegs fourth. But at the top of that turn, Monti finally shook Mydadsaid A loose, tipped three-high and started pacing furiously to make up the two lengths he was behind. As they were headed for home, Rockin On Venus was within reach and Mydadsaid A collared him in the shadow of the wire to win by a head in 1:49.4 and take a new lifetime mark. Courageous Warrior (Mike Oosting) rallied for third.
Mydadsaid A ($5.80) is owned by Kellogg Racing Stables of Queensbury, NY, and trained by Jackie Greene. It was the second win of the season for the seven-year-old Sportswriter-Niki Diva gelding.
Then in the second, Vintage Cheddar also scored from off the pace in convincing fashion.
Vintage Cheddar N (Mitchell Cushing) got away sixth as Syracuse Express (Ron Cushing) marched through quarters of :26.1, :54.2 and 1:22, while dealing with a pesky Rifleman (Brett Beckwith), who was parked the entire way. At three-quarters, Vintage Cheddar N found himself third-over in a dull outer-flow as the race went into the turn, but Cushing tipped the fast-pacing Vintage Cheddar N and rallied home under a line drive to win by 1-1/2 lengths in 1:50.4. Patrickthepiranha A (Bruce Ranger) was second at 126-1, while Mr Huggins (Larry Stalbaum) was third.
It was the third win in a row for the heavily-backed Vintage Cheddar N ($2.60). The 11-year-old Betterthancheddar-Howfarnow gelding is owned by his trainer, Amanda Kelley of Greenfield Center, NY, in partnership with VIP Internet Stable of Piscataway, NJ.
Four horses extended their personal win streaks to three with their victories on Monday. Kill A Dragon (1:50.2, $7.80), Instant Replay (1:51.2, $2.80), Witchita Lineman (1:51.2, $14.40) and the aforementioned Vintage Cheddar N, are some of the hottest horses currently racing at The Ridge.
Driver Brett Beckwith had a grand slam in the bike, including a natural hat trick in races three, four and five. Trainers Julia Eaton and John Distefano both had two winners to lead their fellow conditioners during the afternoon.
Racing will resume at Plainridge Park on Tuesday (July 28) at 4 p.m.
(With files from The Standardbred Owners of Massachusetts; photo of Major Hothooves N)