Plainville, MA — For the third week in a row, Dandy’s Evrlasting came from the back of the pack and scored another impressive victory in the $25,000 fillies and mares Winners-Over Handicap pacing feature at Plainridge Park on Thursday afternoon (Aug. 24).

Assigned post eight, Matty “Ice” Athearn took Dandy’s Evrlasting off the gate to last while Our Lady Lara A (Brett Beckwith) and Booraa N (Ron Cushing) traded the lead by the time they reached the half in :55.2. As Booraa N marched the field up the backstretch, Westbeach (Bruce Ranger) came first-over and was followed by Always Watching (Jordan Derue) and Shallow (Nick Graffam). As the race spiraled into the last turn, Dandy’s Evrlasting left the pylons and moved fourth-over in the outer flow but was still four lengths from the top. Heading into the turn, Always Watching tipped three-deep and Dandy’s Evrlasting swung four-wide around her. With the entire field now covered by only three lengths, Athearn aggressively urged Dandy’s Evrlasting down the lane and to the wire, where she won by a neck in 1:52.1.

Dandy’s Evrlasting swung four-wide around rivals and recorded her third consecutive win in Thursday’s top distaff pace at Plainridge Park. Tom Melanson photo.

It was the ninth win of the year for Dandy’s Evrlasting ($12.80) — all at Plainridge Park — for owners Dandy Farms and Ft. Racing Stable. Jimmy Nickerson was the winning trainer.

Athearn ended the day with a driving hat trick while Nickerson scored a double.

Earlier, in the $17,500 conditioned event for younger horses, Rooster Bennett also made it three wins in a row and set a new lifetime mark in the process.

Rooster Bennett (Brett Beckwith) got away fifth as Rodman (Matty Athearn) took the group to the half in :54.3. Heading up the backstretch, Sandpiper N (Nick Graffam) drew alongside Rodman while Rooster Bennett got underway and joined the leaders at three-quarters. There, Rooster Bennett tipped three-wide and matched strides with Rodman and Sandpiper N all the way around the turn. As they straightened out for the drive, Rooster Bennett took the lead and kept the rest at bay all the way to the line, where he won in 1:52.1.

The Massachusetts-bred Rooster Bennett ($6.60), who was the Massachusetts Sire Stake 2-year-old male pacing champion last year, is trained and owned by Nancy Longobardi in partnership with Domenic Longobardi.

Rooster Bennett will be competing in the 3-year-old colt and gelding division of the Massachusetts Sire Stakes this year which starts on Monday, Sept. 25, at Plainridge Park.

Brett Beckwith, Nick Graffam and Jimmy Hardy all had driving doubles during the afternoon.

There was a huge payout in the sixth race Wicked Hi-5 pentafecta on Thursday. The combination of 5-6-2-3-9 returned $18,375.68 for a 20-cent wager.

Live racing at Plainridge Park will resume on Monday (Aug. 28) at 4 p.m.