Plainville, MA — On Tuesday afternoon (Oct. 13), Plainridge Park featured a special $20,000 pace for 3-year-old Massachusetts-bred pacers who are currently competing in the $3.2 million Massachusetts Breeders Stakes, and Pastrnak scored his second win of the year with a gate-to-wire effort.
Pastrnak (Mitchell Cushing) left fast and reached the quarter in :27.4 on top by 4 lengths. With Daisy Dudes (Matty Athearn) sitting in the loose pocket, Pastrnak paced unopposed to the half in :56.4 and three-quarters in 1:24.4, before entering the last turn. About halfway through that bend, Daisy Dudes left the pocket and started to advance on the leader. But as she was getting in gear, Daisy Dudes made a break, leaving a clear path for Coach Cry (Bruce Ranger) to chase Pastrnak. Coach Cry made up ground rapidly as Pastrnak fought to hold him at bay, and as they reached the wire, Pastrnak hung on by a half length and won in a lifetime best 1:54.1.
Pastrnak ($15) is owned, bred and trained by Nancy Longobardi.
The Massachusetts Breeders Stakes will reconvene at Plainridge Park on Monday (Oct. 19) at 2 p.m.
There were also two $12,000 TrackMaster Rating races on the card.
In the first, P A Piper (Jimmy Hardy) got away last and trailed until the last turn, where he moved clear at the top of the stretch and outpaced the field coming home by a half length in 1:53.2, which was a seasonal mark.
P A Piper ($6.80) is owned by Arthur Blutstein in partnership with his driver, Jim Hardy, and his trainer, Jolene Andrews.
Then, in the second, Bag Pipe Major (Brett Beckwith) got away third and sat there until making a first-over move past the half. Bag Pipe Major drew alongside the front-running Major Betts (Nick Graffam) in the last turn and then pulled away by 1-1/4 lengths at the line to win in 1:52.2, which was also a seasonal mark.
Bag Pipe Major ($12.40) is owned by Jan Donaway and trained by Bethany Graffam.
Mitchell Cushing posted a driving hat trick on Tuesday.
Racing at Plainridge Park will resume on Thursday (Oct. 15) at 2 p.m,; there will be a $6,538 carryover in the Wicked Hi-5 in the sixth race. Free full-card past performance programs and replays for every card of racing at Plainridge Park are available at plainridgeparkcasino.com.