After two defeats in sub-1:50 miles in her most recent outings at Plainridge Park, Soft Shot produced a seasonal-best effort to win the $34,722 Fillies and Mares Open Pace on Tuesday, Aug. 11.
Soft Shot (Jay Randall) got to the front first off the gate but yielded that position to Swedish Starlet N (Matty Athearn), who left from post eight and crossed over to the front passing the :26.1 quarter. Randall came right back with Soft Shot to re-establish control before the :54.4 half.
As the field moved onto the backstretch, Sweet Hayley Jane A (Ron Cushing) made a first-over move and pushed Soft Shot hard to three-quarters in 1:21.4. Soft Shot rebuffed Sweet Hayley Jane A and opened up a three-length advantage turning for the lane, then paced home with authority to win by 1-1/2 lengths in 1:49.4. Swedish Starlet N finished second, with Intothemysticmoon (Bruce Ranger) third.
Soft Shot ($8.20) recorded her eighth win of the year in 22 starts for owner Paul O’Neil and trainer Jaymes McAssey. The five-year-old Heston Blue Chip-Aims Whisper mare is 26-for-61 lifetime.
In the $27,778 conditioned pace for distaffs, Chakra took no prisoners en route to a 1:51.1 victory. Matty Athearn sent her to the front, and after fractions of :26.1 and :54.4, Chakra was challenged by Vel Cinderella (Drew Monti), who moved first-over from fourth and aggressively strode towards the leader. As the field reached three-quarters in 1:22, Vel Cinderella was a length shy of the top but kept pace with Chakra through the turn. But Chakra opened up by two lengths in deep stretch and won in hand, with Beantown Ace (Mitchell Cushing) motoring for second over Vel Cinderella. Chakra ($3.40) is owned and trained by Julia Eaton.
Mitchell Cushing had a driving hat trick on Tuesday while 11 different trainers won one race apiece for the second day in a row.
Racing will resume at Plainridge Park on Thursday at 4 p.m.
(With files from Standardbred Owners of Massachusetts)