Plainville, MA — Brett Beckwith, currently North America’s fifth leading dash driver, was hard at work at Plainridge Park on Tuesday (Oct. 27) winning both features en route to an overall hat trick in the bike.
Beckwith won the $20,000 Minutemen and Women for Massachusetts-bred horses with Uff Da, who earned a hard fought victory.
Uff Da left from post 8 and was parked three-deep for over a quarter mile before he finally crossed over to the lead passing the finish line the first time. Uff Da then reached the half in :56.1 with Beantown Miki (Mitchell Cushing) sitting on his back. As they made their way to three-quarters, Street Justice (Kyle Swift) pulled first-over and applied pressure to the leader well into the last turn. But Street Justice eventually faded, leaving Beantown Miki a clear path towards Uff Da. Coming off the turn, Beantown Miki tipped and advanced on Uff Da, along with Mia’s Boy (Matty Athearn), who was in full flight heading for home. That two-pronged attack kept gaining ground, but Uff Da reached the line before they could reach him and won by three-quarters of a length in 1:54.3.
It was the second straight win and the third in the last four outings for Uff Da ($3), who is owned by John and Chris Lems and trained by Melissa Beckwith.
Brett Beckwith then scored a nightcap winner with TH Kay C Crunch, who took a new lifetime mark.
TH Kay C Crunch got away fifth as Sweet Street Lou (Matty Athearn) muscled his way to the front in :26.1, only for Montana GB (Nick Graffam) to charge to the front before passing the half in :54. Then, just before three-quarters, Sweet Street Lou came out to challenge Montana GB while TH Kay C Crunch was third-over in the outer flow, but that wasn’t for long. Beckwith tipped TH Kay C Crunch three-wide at the top of turn three and powered into contention by the top of the stretch. When they straightened for home, TH Kay C Crunch reeled in Montana GB and cruised home under a line drive to win by 1-1/4 lengths in a career best 1:50.3, home in :27.4.
It was the seventh win of the year for TH Kay C Crunch ($5.40), who is owned by Joe Trice and trained by Jimmy Nickerson.
Beckwith’s third win was with Captain Tell (1:52.3, $3).
Gerald MacKenie Jr. led all trainers on Tuesday with a pair of winners.
Racing at Plainridge Park will resume on Thursday (Oct. 29) at 2 p.m.; there will be a $20,204 carryover in the Wicked Hi-5 in the sixth race. Also featured on the card will be the $1.32-million Massachusetts Breeders Stakes finals, with the finest 2 and 3-year-old trotters and pacers bred in Massachusetts going to post in eight races valued at $165,000 each.
Starting Monday, Nov. 2, post time will be moved to 1 p.m. for the remainder of the meet, which concludes on Tuesday, Nov. 24.
Free full-card past performance programs and replays for every card of racing at Plainridge Park are available at plainridgeparkcasino.com.