Caviart Shelly scores; Campbell wins five at Plainridge
June 5, 2018,by Tim Bojarski, for the Standardbred Owners of Massachusetts
Plainville, MA — Caviart Shelly was razor sharp in May and she kicked off June the exact same way, tripping out to a big win in the $14,000 Winners-Over Handicap feature for pacing fillies and mares at Plainridge Park on Tuesday afternoon (June 5).
Tom Melanson photo
Caviart Shelly rode the pocket to victory in Tuesday’s top distaff pace at Plainridge Park.
Western Stepp (Drew Campbell) was fleet of foot, leaving from mid-pack and grabbing the lead quickly. Iced Out (Greg Merton) was second until she made an uncharacteristic break before the quarter, allowing Caviart Shelly (Wally Watson) to move into the garden spot where she stayed until the stretch.
The two front-steppers played “follow the leader” through fractions of :27, :56.1 and 1:24.2 without anyone else getting close enough to challenge. At the top of the lane, Western Stepp had a two-length advantage, but when Watson pulled Caviart Shelly off the pylons, she found another gear and blew right by the leader to easily win by a length in 1:52.3, a new seasonal mark.
It was the second win in nine starts this year for Caviart Shelly ($11.80), who now has $20,195 in the bank for owner Fox Ridge Stable. Lisa Watson is the conditioner.
In the $12,000 fillies and mares sub-feature, Hidden Land (Greg Merton) shipped into Plainridge from Yonkers and wasted no time flashing her back class when she led from the gate to the wire in a swift 1:52.3, winning by four lengths. The time was a new seasonal mark for Hidden Land ($4.60) and the fastest win time for the mare since October 22, 2016. The 7-year-old Badlands Hanover progeny is owned by the Jesmeral Stable and is trained by Monique Cohen.
Driver Drew Campbell found himself smiling for pictures five times on Tuesday as he put on a show for the fans. Campbell won with Acefortyfour Alex (1:54, $3.00), Briar’s Creek Angel (1:56, $3.00), Paradise Skies (1:55.4, $6.00), Mc Attagirl (1:53.4, $5.20) and Rock Market (1:55, $4.60). Campbell’s pentad of pay dirt now gives him 52 wins for the meet, six ahead of the second-place Merton.
Racing resumes at Plainridge Park on Thursday afternoon (June 7) at 4 p.m.