Seventimesavirgin was the Indiana Sires Stakes three-year-old pacing filly champion in 2016, amassing $411,200 in earnings during her sophomore year. She also competed in the 2017 Breeders Crown for aged mare pacers against the likes of Pure Country, Lady Shadow and Bedroom Confessions and has been a rock-solid Invitational mare her entire adult career.
On Tuesday afternoon (Aug. 21), she left the state of Indiana for the first time since the first pari-mutuel start of her two-year-old season to visit Plainridge Park and win the $16,000 fillies and mares Winners-Over pace as the 1-9 favourite.
Several ladies dictated this race, starting with Empty Gesture (Chris Long), who had the lead at the quarter in :27.1 before yielding it to Watts Was I Drinkn (Mike Stevenson) at the half in :56. She looked strong on the point but the one who followed her second-over would write the headline today.
Seventimesavirgin (Greg Merton), who had been following Watts Was I Drinkn, was now on the rim and by the five-eighths pole, had gotten a nose in front of the leader. Seventimesavirgin cleared by three-quarters and when she did, she continued to pace away from the field. Under a non-urgent hand-drive by Merton, Seventimesavirgin turned into the stretch and cruised home to a three-length victory in 1:51.3.
A five-year-old daughter of Always A Virgin, Seventimesavirgin ($2.20) registered her 26th win in 54 lifetime starts and now has earned $618,890 for owner Jesse De Long. Jim Nickerson trains the winner.
Greg Merton led all drivers on Tuesday with three wins on the card.
There was no winner of the Wicked Hi-5 Pentafecta again on Tuesday and as a result, there will be a $4,108 carry-over pool for that wager in the sixth race on Thursday (Aug. 23), when live racing resumes at Plainridge Park. Post time is 4 p.m.
(Standardbred Owners of Massachusetts)