A patient drive by Brett Beckwith paid big dividends for Heinikin Bythebay, who brushed home late to win the $34,247 Open Handicap pacing feature at Plainridge Park on Monday (Aug. 12) afternoon.
Heinikin Bythebay got away sixth as Torrid Saint A (Matty Athearn) and Himself N (Mitchell Cushing) traded leads as they passed the quarter in :27.2. Himself N settled on the point before getting to the half in :56. An outer-flow lead by Im No Outlaw N (Drew Monti) saw Beckwith follow with Heinikin Bythebay as the field made their way up the backstretch.
Im No Outlaw N got to within a length of Himself N at three-quarters, but Himself N bolted after that and opened up a three length advantage by the top of the stretch. But three lengths wasn’t enough as Heinikin Bythebay was pacing freely down the middle of the track as they headed for home and caught Himself N at the line to win by a head in 1:52.
The triumph was the fifth win of the year for Heinikin Bythebay ($4.20) and owners KDK Standardbreds. Kevin Switzer trains the winner.
In the $30,137 upper-level conditioned pace, Tulhurstsantanna A (Shawn Gray) shot to the front from post six, set fractional times of :27.1, :55.4 and 1:24.2 and then turned for home and maintained a one length advantage as he won in 1:52.3.
The victory was the 41st lifetime win for Tulhurstsantanna A ($12.80) and it pushed his career earnings over $415,000. Mark Jakubic owns the Alicia Gray trained gelding.
There was a special 1-1/4 mile $27,397 pace in the seventh race that saw four lead changes occur from start to finish. And in the end, Rooster Bennett (Drew Monti) was a winner by a neck over Rodman (Matty Athearn) in a new track record of 2:23.3.
Rooster Bennett ($4.60) is owned by Nancy Longobardi and Domenic Longobardi, who also trains the winner.
Mitchell Cushing drove three winners on Monday.
Live racing resumes at Plainridge Park on Tuesday (Aug 13) with post time at 4 p.m. and the card will feature a $2,300 carryover in the Wicked Hi-5 in race six.
(Standardbred Owners of Massachusetts)