Acushla Machree N rebounded from a sixth-place finish last out as she won the $34,722 Fillies and Mares Open Handicap Pace for the fourth time this season at Plainridge Park on Tuesday, Aug. 18.
Acushla Machree N (Mitchell Cushing) got away fourth early as Swedish Starlet N (Matty Athearn) led to the quarter in :26. But right after that station, Sweet Hayley Jane A (Ron Cushing) pulled quickly and blitzed to the front in a snappy :53.4 half.
Acushla Machree N had also moved to the outside and made her way to second in the breeze as they reached three-quarters in 1:21.1. Coming off the turn, Whilemena Rita A (Brett Beckwith) joined the fray three-wide, and the entire field was also in reach. Acushla Machree N was in the middle of the track under a full head of steam and rolled to the line on top by a half-length in 1:50. Sweet Hayley Jane A was second, with Mrs Cheese (Drew Monti) third.
Acushla Machree N ($6.40), who is owned by Ray Campbell Jr., is now 20-for-80 lifetime. She won the Aug. 11 distaff Open before her sixth-place finish last week. Gretchen Athearn trains the seven-year-old daughter of Vincent-Annie Morva.
In the $27,778 upper-level conditioned paced for the ladies, Royally Hot (Mike Oosting) got away last as Vel Cinderella (Brett Beckwith) led to the quarter in :26.2 and half in :55.2. Joansrisingstar N (Mitchell Cushing) pulled first-over and brought Royally Hot with her second-over. As the field passed three-quarters in 1:22.2, Joansrisingstar N took the lead from Vel Cinderella, but the lurking Royally Hot continued to advance and was ready for the finish. Joansrisingstar N dug in along the pylons as Royally Hot continued to dig alongside her, and the two battled to the line. Only a photo could determine that Royally Hot reached the line first by a nose in 1:50.4. Beantown Deuce (Drew Monti) was third.
The win was the fifth of the year in 23 starts for Royally Hot ($5.60), who is owned by Tim Tetrick LLC and trained by Alison Hynes.
Plainridge Park also hosted the first edition of the $20,833 Romper Room, a prep race for two-year-old Massachusetts-bred horses who are eligible for the Massachusetts Breeders Stakes, which starts on Sept. 28. The race was won by Chase News Network, a pacing filly who went gate-to-wire for a maiden victory in 1:54. Chase News Network ($2.60), a daugher of Bettors Wish-Hidden Land, was driven by Brett Beckwith for trainer Matty Medeiros and owner/breeder Jesmeral Stable.
There were two more $100-plus win mutuels at Plainridge Park on Tuesday. First was Bean Shooter (Drew Monti), who went from ninth to first in the stretch, won in 1:53.1 and returned $103.20 for a $2 win bet. Some Attitude (Conny Bonetti) got away eighth before moving sharply in the outer flow and then dashing clear down the lane under a high-line drive to win in 1:55 and pay $126. This is the fourth time since last Thursday that there has been a $100-plus win payout at The Ridge.
Drivers Matty Athearn, Brett Beckwith, Mitchell Cushing and Drew Monti all had two wins apiece on the 11-race Tuesday card, as did trainer Gretchen Athearn.
Racing will resume at Plainridge Park on Thursday at 4 p.m.
(With files from Standardbred Owners of Massachusetts)