Finding herself in an almost impossible spot at the top of the stretch, Thats Incredible flew home and registered a career best effort in the $15,000 fillies and mares pacing feature at
Thats Incredible (Jay Randall) got away last while Hilaria (Mike Stevenson) and Therewasthisgirl (Nick Graffam) battled from just past the :26.1 quarter to the :54.2 half and the 1:22.1 three-quarters, while Pammy Jo (Shawn Gray) sat in the pocket just waiting for some room to make her move.
Halfway through the last turn Therewasthisgirl tired and Hilaria was looking vulnerable. Coming into the stretch Pammy Jo got her wish as the pylon path opened and Gray started driving her home. But Randall swung Thats Incredible to the middle of the track from the back of the pack sixth where she then flew down the lane unabated and cruised to 2-1/4 length win a new lifetime mark of 1:51.3.
It was the third victory in only nine starts this year for Thats Incredible ($6.80) but it pushed her lifetime earnings over the $300,000 mark, now with $301,969 in the bank for owner Joe Trice. Trainer Jimmy Nickerson got his second win of the day from Thats Incredible.
Another $15,000 conditioned event with an all male field saw Anvil Hands (Jim Hardy) leave hard and take the field to a brisk :26.1 quarter. With Treacherous Tom (Bruce Ranger) and Striking Impact (Drew Monti) sitting contently in second and third, Anvil Hands then paced unopposed to the half before Lyons Legacy (Shawn Thayer) pulled first-over from fourth to push the issue.
With the outside threat looming, the field bunched in the last turn but Hardy was still in control of the race. At the top of the stretch, Treacherous Tom found room at the pylons and started to gain ground on the leader. But Anvil hands dug in and hung on for a hard fought one-half length victory in 1:52.4.
It was the seventh win of the year for Anvil Hands ($6.00) and it pushed his 2022 earnings to $66,125 for owners Dave Thibault, Christine Thibault, Jim Hardy and Jolene Andrews, who also trains the winner.
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(Standardbred Owners of