After leading early, Pepper Wow had to make a late rush to grab his fourth victory in 14 starts this year in the $33,333 Open Handicap Trot at Plainridge Park on Thursday, Sept. 3.
Amid several leavers, Pepper Wow (Mitchell Cushing) was first to the front and tripped the timer in :27 at the quarter. Platinum As (Brett Beckwith) kept pushing and made the front as they passed the stands and continued on to the half in :55.4. As the field moved up the backstretch, Spaaaanzano (Bruce Ranger) made an outside push and got to second on the outside of Platinum As, just ahead of Pepper Wow to three-quarters in 1:24.1.
At the top of the stretch, Spaaaanzano took the lead from Platinum As, and Pepper Wow and Makeorbreakzaz S (Larry Stalbaum) moved to the centre of the track and were flying, while Kazio Dk (Kyle Swift) found room along the inside. With a mad dash to the line, Pepper Wow did the better work and got the win by a half-length in 1:52.4. Kazio Dk was second, followed by Makeorbreakzaz S.
Pepper Wow ($5.20) is owned by Kathy and Earl Beaman in partnership with Ivan Davies, who also trains the son of Crazy Wow-Tori Hall. The five-year-old stallion is now 16-for-59 lifetime.
For the second racing day in a row at Plainridge, driver Brett Beckwith won five races, including a natural hat trick in races three, four and five. Beckwith scored with Jeffrey Neil (1:54.1, $3), Slick Leonard (1:57.2, $3.80), Kingmaker (1:55.3, $4), Creative Venture (1:54.3, $5) and Malibu Kid (1:54.1, $11.60). Beckwith also had three seconds from his 11 starts, giving him a stout .606 UDR.
Domenico Cecere also had two training wins on Thursday — Jeffrey Neil and Kingmaker.
Racing will resume at Plainridge Park on Monday at 2 p.m.
(Standardbred Owners of Massachusetts)