Twist Of Fate left and tripped out to a personal best, razor-thin victory in the $10,000 conditioned feature pace for fillies and mares at Plainridge Park on Thursday afternoon.
Driver Kevin Switzer, Jr. flew off the wings and took the front with Twist Of Fate, and then led the pack to the quarter in :27.1. Just passed that station, Life Isa Shortwalk (Drew Campbell) popped the deuce and made a rush for the lead and got it in front of the grandstand heading to the half. Without getting a break, an outer flow began to advance on him with Golden Idol (Mitchell Cushing) and Caviart Shelly (Wally Watson) leading the charge.
With the group bunching up on the backside, Life Isa Shortwalk stepped on the gas and scooted off to a :28-second third quarter, opening up a two-length advantage in the process. After sweeping around the turn, he headed into the lane and looked fairly solid. But the outside pursuers faded and the pocket-sitting Twist Of Fate had a clear path to make her move in the stretch. Switzer went to work, as did Campbell, and the two were rocking and knocking down the lane, and were joined by the late-closing Easteriffic (Matt Athearn) between them mid-stretch. When they hit the wire, Twist Of Fate got the advantage by a nose and won in 1:52.4.
The time was a new seasonal mark for Twist Of Fate and also tied her lifetime mark.
It was the fourth win of the year for Twist Of Fate ($22.00) and owner Let It Ride Stable. Sheena McElhiney trains the winner.
Two horse people had huge days at The Ridge on Thursday, each winning four races on the card.
Driver Mitchell Cushing scored the grand slam with Raising Richard (1:56.3, $4.60), Sew Psyched (1:53.3, $8.20), Katkin And Coke (1:55.4, $3.00) and Hawaii And Sun (1:54, $5.00).
Trainer Elisha Lafreniere also had a four-bagger winning with the aforementioned Sew Psyched and Katkin And Coke along with Weddle By Weddle (1:53.2, $4.20) and Casimir Lawman (1:53, $6.00).
After Thursday's wins, Cushing now has 113 for the meet and now has a commanding 14-win lead over the second place Shawn Gray (99). Lafreniere moved into second place in the training competition on the strength of her performance, now with 31 wins and just three behind the leading Jimmy Nickerson (34).
There was no unique winning ticket on the Wicked Hi-5 Pentafecta again on Thursday and as a result, there will be a $22,554 carryover pool for that wager in the sixth race on Friday when live racing resumes at Plainridge Park. Post time for the first race is 2 p.m.
(Standardbred Owners of Massachusetts)