Royalty Again turned a first-over outside grind into a hard earned victory for driver Drew Monti in the $12,000 feature pace for four-year-old and under fillies and mares at Plainridge Park on Thursday afternoon.
Rockin Ellie (Bruce Ranger) took an early lead going to the quarter but then Mary Goodnight (Shawn Gray) made a quick move to take control at the top past the half. As soon as she got the lead, Royalty Again (Drew Monti) pulled from third and was outside to push the issue as the race moved up the backside.
At the five-eighths pole, Royalty Again pulled alongside Mary Goodnight and the two tussled toe-to-toe around the far turn and into the stretch. Three pylons down the lane, Royalty Again gained control of the race and under heavy urging from Monti, held off the fast closing Rockin Ellie and After The Lovin (Jim Hardy) to win by a neck in 1:53.2, which was a new lifetime mark.
It was the second win in the last three starts for Royalty Again ($12.40) who is owned by Richard Knight and trained by Randy Bickmore.
There were also a pair of $10,000 conditioned events for fillies and mares on the card of 11 Thursday.
In the first, American Arrow (Mitchell Cushing) took the lead before the half and controlled the rest of the mile. She snapped off a fast :27.3 third quarter to put some distance between her and the field and then coasted home in :28.4 to a 3-3/4 length, 1:52.1 win, which was a new lifetime mark.
With that effort, American Arrow also set a new track record for three-year-old pacing fillies at Plainridge Park.
It was the third win in the last four starts for American Arrow ($7.60) who is owned by George Zitone, Joann Zitone and Heather Zitone and is trained by Melissa Beckwith.
The second saw Mcnugget (Bruce Ranger) get away fourth behind Lifestory Hanover (Drew Monti) before pulling second-over past the half following Shes A Fireball (Ron Cushing), who carried her to the top of the lane. From there Ranger tipped Mcnugget off the cover and paced away to the wire by 1-1/2 lengths to win in 1:54, which was another new lifetime mark.
Mcnugget ($4.00) has now won two out of her last three starts for owner Just Enough and Mike Girouard, who also trains the filly.
Mitchell Cushing, Shawn Gray and Kevin Switzer, Jr. all had driving doubles and trainers Melissa Beckwith and Randy Bickmore did the same on the conditioning side.
Racing resumes at Plainridge Park on Friday with post time at 4 p.m.
(Standardbred Owners of Massachusetts)