It was ladies day at Plainridge Park on Tuesday, Aug. 4 as the best resident fillies and mares lined up to compete, and the top two classes both produced sub-1:50 miles and career performances for the respective winners.
Acushla Machree N took a lot of air on the overland route, but that didn't stop her from turning in the race of her life as she won the $35,211 Open Handicap Pace for fillies and mares.
Acushla Machree N, driven by Mitchell Cushing, got away fourth as Intothemysticmoon (Bruce Ranger) led the distaffers to the half through panels of :26.1 and :54.3. It was there that Acushla Machree N started to make her move, first-over on the outside, while Swedish Starlet N (Matty Athearn) drafted on her back.
Intothemysticmoon continued to lead, but Acushla Machree N pushed a :26.2 third quarter and was breathing down the leader's neck as they made their way around the turn. When the field straightened for home, Acushla Machree N incrementally ran down Intothemysticmoon and then held off the fast-closing Swedish Starlet N by three-quarters of a length to win in 1:49.2. Beantown Deuce (Brett Beckwith) edged out Intothemysticmoon and the favourite from-last, Royally Hot (Kevin Switzer Jr.), for third.
The win was the fourth of the year in 21 starts for Acushla Machree N, a seven-year-old Vincent-Annie Morva mare trained by Gretchen Athearn and owned by Ray Campbell Jr. of Belchertown, Massachusetts. Sent postward at odds of 6-1, Acushla Machree rebounded for the win after previously posting back-to-back Mares Open victories in mid-July at Plainridge, paying $15.60 for the mild upset.
Not to be outdone, Sweet Hayley Jane A scored her ninth win of the year in a career-best effort, with a matching 1:49.2 time in the $28,169 upper-level conditioned pace for distaff participants.
Sweet Hayley Jane A, driven by Ron Cushing, got away fourth off the gate while Vel Cinderella (Brett Beckwith) set the pace to the quarter in :26.2. When the field came off turn one, favourite Lil Rockstar (Bruce Ranger) made a speed rush at the leader and took the front before the :53.4 half. But as soon as Lil Rockstar crossed over, Sweet Hayley Jane A was out with a speed rush of her own and went stride for stride with Lil Rockstar to three-quarters in 1:20.2, which was a fast :26.3 split. Sweet Hayley Jane A took the lead in that bend and then paced with authority to the line where she won by a length over Chakra (Matty Athearn) in 1:49.2. Vel Cinderella bested Lil Rockstar for third.
Sweet Hayley Jane A, a six-year-old daughter of Sweet Lou out of Tacthayleysdelight, is owned by her driver in partnership with Kevin Sywyk of Swartz Creek, Michigan. Heidi Cushing trains the winner, who was successful competing against the Open mares at Plainridge twice this past spring and was the 5-2 third choice here producing a $7 payout.
Brett Beckwith led all drivers on Tuesday with three wins in the bike while Heidi Cushing was the top trainer with a pair of winners from her stable.
Racing will resume at Plainridge Park on Thursday, Aug. 6 at 4 p.m.
(With files from Standardbred Owners of Massachusetts)