For the second week in a row, Turn The Page N came from off the pace to capture the $34,247 Fillies & Mares Open Handicap pacing feature at Plainridge Park on Tuesday afternoon, Aug. 20.
Swedish Starlet N (Matty Athearn) was first to the front as Turn The Page N (Ron Cushing) tucked in fourth. Swedish Starlet N got to the half in :56 when Turn The Page N pulled first-over and drew alongside the leader at the five-eighths marker.
With the race a two-horse dash at that point, Swedish Starlet N and Turn The Page N paced furiously stride for stride from three-quarters, around the last turn and all the way down the stretch before Turn The Page N pulled ahead by one-half length at the line to win in 1:50.4 on the strength of a torrid :54.4 back half.
The victory was the fifth in eight starts this year for Turn The Page N ($2.60), who is owned by her driver Cushing, in partnership with Kevin Sywyk. Carlos Rodriguez trains the winner.
The win was one of two on the card for the Cushing/Rodriguez tandem.
Earlier in a $25,343 conditioned pace for five-year-olds and under, Goliath Hanover (Brett Beckwith) took a quick lead off the gate and set solid fractions of :26.4, :55.4 and 1:24.2 before rounding the last turn and heading into the stretch where he held off strong challenges from Sweet Jeff IR (Nick Graffam) and Maggie At Bat (Matty Athearn) to win by a length in 1:52.1.
The win was the second straight at Plainridge and the third win in the last four starts for Goliath Hanover ($2.40), who is owned by Triple D Stables and trained by Mark Beckwith.
Bruce Ranger led all drivers for wins on Tuesday after getting a hat trick in the bike.
Live harness racing will resume at Plainridge Park on Thursday, Aug. 22 with post time at 4 p.m.
(Standardbred Owners of Massachusetts)