Plainville, MA — Negotiator found favorable cover and drafted to a win in the $25,000 Baystate Special at Plainridge Park on Wednesday (Nov. 26) afternoon.
Negotiator (Mitchell Cushing) got away fifth as Anvil Hands (Jim Hardy) led at the half in :56. And when Jettingtomalibu (Bruce Ranger) pulled first-over just before that second station, Negotiator was glued to his back. Jettingtomalibu drew alongside Anvil Hands at three-quarters and by the top of the stretch he had taken the lead. That’s where Negotiator moved to the center of the track and chased down Jettingtomalibu by half a length in the shadow of the wire in 1:52.2.
Negotiator ($4.60) is owned by Ray Lasky and his driver/trainer, Mitchell Cushing.
There were also two $20,000 paces on the card.
First came the upper-level conditioned event where Frisco Bay N (Brett Beckwith) cut the quarters in :27, :56.1 and 1:23.1 before turning for home and holding off a fast-closing Justcallmebuck (Kevin Switzer Jr. ) by a neck in 1:53.
Frisco Bay N ($20.60) is owned by Kellogg Racing Stable and trained by Jackie Greene.
Then in the other Baystate Special, ER Griffin (Nick Graffam) also led at every station, stopping the clock in :27.2, :56 and 1:23.3, and then dashed to the line three-quarters of a length ahead of Varney (Brett Beckwith) in 1:52.1.
ER Griffin ($2.60) is owned by his trainer Mike Eaton, in partnership with Bob Mc Hugh, Robert Griffin and Russell Young.
Drivers Brett Beckwith, Nick Graffam and Mitchell Cushing and trainers Jackie Greene and Mike Graffam all won two races during the afternoon.
Plainridge will be dark on Thanksgiving Thursday (Nov. 27), however live racing will resume on Friday (Nov. 28) at 1 p.m. to close out the 2025 meet.
Free full past performance programs and race replays for all live racing days at Plainridge Park can be found at plainridgeparkcasino.com.