The top two groups of Plainridge Park pacers went postward on Monday (Aug. 19) and both races turned in times that impressed.
In the $34,246 Open, Vintage Cheddar N (Mitchell Cushing) got away sixth as Torrid Saint A (Matty Athearn) and Gandolf The Black (Drew Monti) took turns on the lead. After Gandolf The Black finally settled on the point, he took the group to the half in :54.3 where an outer flow formed with Naturally Gifted A (Bruce Ranger) leading cover for Vintage Cheddar N as they paced past three-quarters in 1:21.2. Halfway through the last turn, Vintage Cheddar N tipped three-wide and joined Torrid Saint A at the top of the stretch, and both were chasing Gandolf The Black. But Vintage Cheddar N made quick work of that pair as he simply paced away to a 1-3/4-length win in a lifetime best 1:50.
The victory was the third of the year in seven starts for Vintage Cheddar N ($21.20), who is owned by S&K Misfit Stable, John Ball and VIP Internet Stable. Amanda Kelley trains the winner.
Then in the secondary featured $30,137 upper level conditioned pace, Alex Having Fun (Brett Beckwith) completed the mile of his life after he pulled first-over from fourth at five-eighths in pursuit of the front-running Slip The Hundy N (Jay Randall) and took the front as they passed three-quarters in 1:22. From there under a line drive from Beckwith, Alex Having Fun swelled up and bolted home on top by four lengths to win in 1:49.3 to set a new career standard.
The win time was only one-fifth of a second off the track record for aged pacing geldings.
The triumph was the fifth of the year in 18 starts for Alex Having Fun ($3.20), who is owned and trained by Kimberly Vafiades as one of two wins for Vafiades on the card.
There were also three more marathon 1-1/4 mile races held at The Ridge and they were won by Plus One (2:23.4, $5.60), Rooster Bennett (2:23.2, $3.60) and Sportsnest (2:24.3, $59).
Driver Kevin Switzer Jr. had a grand slam on Monday to lead all other drivers.
Live harness racing will resume at Plainridge Park on Tuesday, Aug. 20 with post time at 4 p.m.
(Standardbred Owners of Massachusetts)