The top race at Plainridge Park on Thursday (Sept. 14) was a $14,500 mid-level conditioned event for fillies and mares that was won by Stay Jelly and Brett Beckwith.
Stay Jelly got away fourth before pulling first-over at the half to eventually draw near the front-running Eazy Hunting (Matty Athearn) at the top of the stretch. Stay Jelly took the lead shortly after and then held off Racey Rach N (Mitchell Cushing) at the line by one-half length in 1:52.1 to take a new lifetime mark.
Stay Jelly ($4.20) is owned by Dragon Tales Farm and is trained by Michelle Crawford. It was one of two driving wins for Beckwith on the card.
There were four more Massachusetts-bred horses that won on Thursday who are eligible to the $2.5 million Massachusetts Sire Stakes that start at Plainridge Park on September 25.
Three-year-old pacing filly My Sweet Kate (Sweet Lou-Kate Is Well Said) took a new 1:55 lifetime mark in her 3-1/4-length win, three-year-old pacing gelding Race Me Maverick (Western Maverick-Race Me Android) also took a lifetime mark of 1:57.4 in his victory, three-year-old pacing gelding Your Brother (So Surreal-Gotmyreddressontnit) looked sharp in his 1:53.3 win and three-year-old pacing filly Seafood Beauty (American Ideal-Seafood Annie) also took a new lifetime mark of 1:54.4 in her one-length win.
The top driver on the card was Matty Athearn with three ice cold wins, two of which were trained by Jimmy Nickerson, the top conditioner for the afternoon.
Live harness racing will resume at Plainridge Park on Monday, Sept. 18 at 2 p.m. and there will be a $3,740 carryover in the Wicked Hi-5 pentafecta wager in race six.
(With files from the Standardbred Owners of Massachusetts)