by Paul Verrette, for Plainridge Racecourse

Plainville, MA — While a driver and trainer each remained red hot, the fastest marks of the young season on both the trot and the pace were established on Tuesday afternoon at Plainridge Racecourse.

Alan Mattison Photo

Goin To The Beach won his second straight Open at Plainridge.

Goin To The Beach, with Bob Sumner in the sulky, won his second consecutive Open Pace. The 1:53.4 effort shaved a fifth of a second off last week’s winning time. Bellas Bliss (Mike MacDonald), the only mare in the field, finished just a length back. Markalan A (Ron Cushing) grabbed the show spot.

In the Open Trot one race later, MacDonald reached the winner’s circle with Donmar Joey, stopping the teletimer in a lifetime best 1:58. The four-year-old shaved a full second off the seasonal mark set last week. Manhattan Special, driven by Fern Paquet, Jr., finished second, while Desperado Don and Ron Cushing landed third.

Driver Shawn Gray and trainer Jamie Gerard continued their torrid pace as Plainridge moved into the second week of the 2005 season. Gray scored a hat trick on Monday and followed it up with a double on Tuesday. Through five sessions Gray’s nine wins are tops in the driver standings, four better than Mike Eaton and Fern Paquet, Jr., who are tied for second.

On the training front, the Jamie Gerard stable has been equally as impressive, as the trainer from the Pine Tree state has won six races in just seven Plainridge starts. He stands tied with Marybeth Beauregard for leading training honors.

Racing resumes at Plainridge on Thursday with post time of 4:00 p.m.