Plainville, MA — For the first time this year, all three weekly $25,000 Open features were held on the same day on Monday (Nov. 10) afternoon, and Always Bstunning N by far put in the most impressive performance of the triumvirate after winning the distaff pace in 1:50.4 over an off track and through unfavorable weather conditions.
Always Bstunning N (Kevin Switzer Jr.) got away last as Fighting Evil (Bruce Ranger) cut the :27 quarter. But Switzer was already out and swinging with Always Bstunning N, who took command in front of the stands and then proceeded past the half and up the backstretch. It was there that Elegant A (Shawn Gray) moved first-over into contention and engaged Always Bstunning N at three-quarters. The two mares then battled around the last turn, into the stretch and all the way to the wire where Always Bstunning N never gave way and won by one-half length in 1:50.4.
It was the 11th win of the year for Always Bstunning N ($2.20), who is owned by Richard Poillucci and trained by Gretchen Athearn.
Earlier in the Open Handicap for male participants, Blazing Home N (Larry Stalbaum) sat second behind Jackies Boy (Fern Paquet Jr.) through quarters of :26.4, :56 and 1:24 with only a mild bid from Sweet Jeff IR (Nick Graffam) coming from behind. After the race rounded the last turn and headed for home, Stalbaum pulled Blazing Home N off the pylons and took dead-aim at Jackies Boy. Blazing Home N kept digging all the way to the line where he finally forged ahead by a neck to win in 1:52.
It was the seventh win of the year for Blazing Home N ($4.60), who is owned and trained by his driver, Larry Stalbaum.
Finally, in the Open Handicap trot, Pepper Wow (Jim Hardy) got away fourth and trailed by seven lengths as Marquis Lafayette (Bruce Ranger) was on the engine to the half in :55.4 and up by four lengths with his stablemate Sforza (Kevin Switzer Jr.) trying to keep up. As the race made its way up the backstretch, Marquis Lafayette’s lead started to diminish and Pepper Wow now was outside and gobbling up ground heading to three-quarters. At that station, Pepper Wow dropped in third and stayed there until the top of the stretch where Hardy tipped back out and line-drove Pepper Wow right past Marquis Lafayette and Sforza to win by a length in 1:53.4, which was only a fifth of his lifetime mark.
Pepper Wow ($21.60) won his sixth race of the year for owners Kathy Beamen, Earl Beaman and Ivan Davies. Jolene Andrews trains the winner.
There were quite a few upsets on Monday, but none were better than Muse La Rouge (1:53.3) who won the ninth race at 25-1 to pay $53.60 and trigger a $2 1-5 exacta that paid $1,171.20 and a $1 1-5-6 trifecta that paid $5,463.20.
Drivers Jim Hardy and Kevin Switzer Jr. and trainers Jolene Andrews and Gretchen Athearn, all registered two wins apiece during the card on Monday.
Live racing will resume at Plainridge Park on Tuesday (Nov. 11) at 1 p.m.
Free full past performance programs and race replays for all live racing days at Plainridge Park can be found at plainridgeparkcasino.com.