Sixteen of the best pacing mares currently racing in Massachusetts gathered in two divisions of Winners-Over $10,000 lifetime events that highlighted the Tuesday afternoon card at Plainridge Park with both winners claiming victory via lifetime best efforts.
In the first $16,000 division, Empty Gesture (Chris Long) defied her 10-1 odds and went right to the front to cut quarters of :26.1, :54.2 and 1:22.3, parking out Acefortyfour Alex (Mitchell Cushing) and Show Runner (Greg Merton) and then holding off Western Stepp (Nick Graffam) at the wire to win by a neck in 1:52.2, which was a new lifetime mark.
It was the seventh win of the year for Empty Gesture ($22.40) and second for owner/trainer Jennifer Allen who claimed the mare for $12,000 back on July 3.
The second $14,000 distaff pacing feature was won by Iced Out (Mitchell Cushing) who took a similar path to victory; on the front end cutting fractions of :26.4, :56 and 1:23.3 before rebuffing mild bids from Iheartquestionmark (Eric Davis) and Cameo Delight (Mike Stevenson) to pull away to a two length win in 1:52.3. That time was also a new lifetime mark for the winner.
Iced Out ($6.80) scored her first win since the second week of June for owner Little Bapa and her trainer Eric Beach.
Beach had the hot hand in the training department on Tuesday, sending four of his students to get their pictures taken. Besides the already mentioned Iced Out, Beach also conditioned Dakota Sleek (1:54, $22.60), Bestfriendforever (1:54.3, $4.60) and Spilling The Beans (1:55.1, $2.60) to victory.
Greg Merton led all drivers on Tuesday with three wins.
Racing resumes at Plainridge Park on Thursday with post time at 4 p.m.
(Standardbred Owners of Massachusetts)