Plainville, MA — After a game second place finish in the top class last week, Sweet Hayley Jane A put in a career effort as she won the $25,000 Open Handicap pace for fillies and mares at Plainridge Park on Monday (April 27).
As Seaside Tina (Nick Graffam) flew to the front, Ron Cushing was rolling up the outside with Sweet Hayley Jane A and settled in third passing the quarter. The race then proceeded to the half in :55.1 and Sweet Hayley Jane A was back out in the breeze movinf swiftly towards Seaside Tina as they motored up the backstretch.
The two mares matched strides to three-quarters in 1:22.2 and continued into the far turn. With the field beginning to bunch, the pressure was on. But Sweet Hayley Jane A made her way to the front at the top of the stretch and continued to lead the pack while holding off three fast closing females to win by three-quarters of a length in 1:51.1, which was a new lifetime mark.
Sweet Hayley Jane A ($5.80) is owned by her driver Ron Cushing, in partnership with Kevin Sywyk. Heidi Cushing trains the winner.
Later in the $17,000 upper-level distaff pace, Wunderkindbluechip (Mitchell Cushing) sat second behind Twin B Sunkissed (Shawn Gray) through quarters of :27.1, :56.1 and 1:23.4, before tipping out in the last turn and motoring to the lead by the top of the stretch. From there, Wunderkindbluechip paced strongly to the line while holding off the rapidly approaching Royally Hot (Kevin Switzer Jr.) to win by a quarter length in 1:52.2.
It was the first win of the year for the heavily favored Wunderkindbluechip ($2.80) who is owned by Ray Laksky and her driver, Mitchell Cushing, who also trains the winner.
Mitchell Cushing and Jay Randall each had two winners during the card while 11 different trainers each had one win apiece.
The Wicked Hi-5 pentafecta was hit in the day’s sixth race. The single unique combination of 5-4-2-1-8 returned a rather impressive $11,506.68 for a 20-cent wager.
Racing resumes at Plainridge Park on Tuesday (April 28) at 4 p.m.
Free full card past performance programs for every live card of racing at Plainridge Park can always be downloaded at their website (plainridgeparkcasino.com) under the “Racing” tab. You can also watch all the race replays on that same page.