He’s no spring chicken and despite his age, the 11-year-old Quick Shot shows no signs of being in the autumn of his career either as he continued to perform at a high level winning his seventh race of the year in the $20,000 District 9 featured pace at Plainridge Park on Monday afternoon (Sept. 18).
Quick Shot (Bruce Ranger) was on top immediately after the gate released the field and settled in front of Spatterdash (Mike Stevenson), who momentarily looked like he wanted the front but opted for the trip instead. Quick Shot then slowed the half to :57.4 before Finnbar (Jay Randall) went first-over and pushed a :27.4 third panel. Finnbar continued to apply pressure through the last turn but couldn’t get the best of Quick Shot, who paced sharply to the wire to take a 1-1/2-length win in 1:54.
Quick Shot ($7.20) notched his 52nd career win and that pushed his earnings to $705,254 for owner/trainer Kathleen Brewer.
Another gate-to-wire winner was Anvil Hands (Jim Hardy), who circled the field in the $18,500 upper-level conditioned undercard event. Anvil Hands cut quarters of :26.2, :55.1 and 1:23 while taking heavy pressure from Jo Pas Warrior (Mitchell Cushing) through the middle half. At the top of the lane, Alex Having Fun (Drew Campbell) also got into the mix, but Anvil Hands turned away all comers and hung on to victory by a head in 1:51.4.
Anvil Hands ($11.80) is owned by David Thibault, Christine Thibault, his driver Hardy and his trainer Jolene Andrews.
Drivers Drew Campbell and Bruce Ranger both scored triples on Monday while trainers Kimberly Vafiades and Randy Bickmore each won two races.
Live racing will resume at Plainridge Park on Tuesday, Sept. 19 at 2 p.m. and there will be a $4,910 carryover in the Wicked Hi-5 pentafecta wager in race six.
(Standardbred Owners of Massachusetts)