Deuces For Charity yields benevolent payoff at Plainridge
July 3, 2018,by Tim Bojarski, for the Standardbred Owners of Massachusetts
Plainville, MA — After falling just short with a late closing bid at 25-1 last week, the once again overlooked Deuces For Charity sealed the deal on Tuesday afternoon (July 3) at Plainridge Park, winning the $14,000 Winners-Over Handicap for fillies and mares at 16-1 on another sultry summer day.
Tom Melanson photo
Deuces For Charity lifted off cover to take Tuesday’s featured distaff pace at Plainridge Park.
Five horses argued for the lead for almost an eighth of a mile before three of them seated, leaving Show Runner (Shawn Gray) with the lead and Western Stepp (Drew Campbell) hung out fifth to the quarter in :26.1. As the group motored to the half, Western Stepp started to advance and Deuces For Charity (Eddie Davis Jr.) pulled from sixth and took live cover.
Western Stepp drew closer to Show Runner, and by three-quarters had looked her in the eye. The two paced side by side around the turn while Deuces For Charity kept drafting and waiting to make her move off the last bend when Davis tipped her three-deep. She paced past a tiring Western Stepp and engaged a susceptible Show Runner, who had been used hard the whole mile. Deuces For Charity dug in and motored right on by to win by a length in 1:51.3, a new seasonal mark.
It was the second win of the year for Deuces For Charity ($34.80), both of which occurred at Plainridge Park. Charles Fernandez Jr. owns the 7-year-old Armbro Deuce mare, who has now earned $37,775 this year under the direction of trainer Dennis Laterza.
Driver Shawn Gray had three wins on the day, as did trainer Eric Beach.
Racing resumes at Plainridge Park on Thursday (July 5) at 4 p.m.