Fresh off a lifetime effort of 1:49.3 at the Meadowlands last week, Itsallaboutfaith N remained undefeated in North America after taking the $22,500 feature pace at Plainridge Park on Tuesday (Aug. 1).
Hespoisedtopounce A (Matty Athearn) blasted off the gate and took a lead to the quarter where Itsallaboutfaith N (Mitchell Cushing) came rolling up the outside to claim at that station in :26.3. With the field now single file, Cushing rationed out the speed with quarters of :55.2 and 1:23 as Hespoisedtopounce A and The Wild Card (Bruce Ranger) were two abreast and two lengths in arrears giving chase. But the chase was for naught as Itsallaboutfaith N continued to lead through the last turn and into the stretch where he outpaced the competition to the wire to win by 1-3/4 lengths in 1:51.1.
It was the second straight win for the heavily favoured Itsallaboutfaith N ($2.40), who is owned by Richard Poillucci and trained by Tahnee Camilleri.
The secondary featured $20,000 District 9 Pace was won by Woodys Cash Crop (Nick Graffam), who chased fast early fractions before pulling first-over heading towards three-quarters. From there, he battled Quick Shot (Jay Randal) and Odds On Lauderdale (Brett Beckwith) from the top of the stretch to the wire, where he won by one-half length in 1:52.4.
Woodys Cash Crop ($13) registered his 20th lifetime win for owners Mike Graffam, Robert Holden and Judith Ambrose. Mike Graffam also trains the winner.
Graffam and Graffam doubled up on Tuesday as they also won with Rockin Cougar (1:53.1), who returned a huge payout of $75 to win.
Kevin Switzer Jr. led all drivers with two wins on the card while trainers Bob Marston and Bryant Sears each scored a double.
Live racing will resume at Plainridge Park on Thursday (Aug. 3) at 4 p.m. and there will be a $8,353 carryover in the Wicked Hi-5 pentafecta wager in race six.
(Standardbred Owners of Massachusetts)