Massachusetts stake eligibles shine at Plainridge

Plainville, MA — Two fast Massachusetts-bred fillies — both of whom competed in both the Massachusetts and New York Sire Stakes programs at 2 — put in career performances in their respective $12,500 conditioned races on Thursday (June 10) at Plainridge Park as they tuned up for their sophomore campaigns. Both are from the stable of Sheena McElhiney and were driven by Shawn Gray.

Dual-eligible Rightfully Mine took a new lifetime mark on Thursday at Plainridge Park. Tom Melanson photo.

After finishing third in her first New York Sire Stakes start at Saratoga Casino Hotel this year, Rightfully Mine got back to her winning ways at Plainridge.

Rightfully Mine followed outside cover off the gate and took the lead as the race headed past the stands for the first time. From there, the daughter of American Ideal maintained a 1-1/4 length lead up the backstretch and around the last turn. Coming down the lane, Kitty Hoyne (Nick Graffam) vacated her pocket position to take a shot at the leader, but Rightfully Mine finished strongly to win by a length in a lifetime best 1:52.2.

Rightfully Mine ($2.40) made both the NYSS and MASS finals in 2020 and carded $108,812 in the process. This was her third win in only four starts this year for owner Anthony Scussel and Monique Cohen.

Seafood Sweetheart captured another third-place finish in her last start at Saratoga, a NYSS Excelsior division, and she also came to play hardball at Plainridge Thursday.

Gray shot right to the front with Seafood Sweetheart and had the race completely under control. After a mild saunter of :57.2 to the half, Gray hit the gas with Seafood Sweetheart to post :28 and :28.2 back quarters and put away any challengers en route to a gaudy 5-1/4 length romp in 1:53.4, equalling her lifetime mark.

Seafood Sweetheart ($2.80), who made the NYSS Excelsior and MASS finals last year, scored her second win in three tries this year for owner the Seafood Delight Stable.

Kevin Switzer Jr. was the leading driver on Thursday, scoring a hat trick during the proceedings.

When live racing resumes at Plainridge Park on Friday (June 14), there will be a $21,965.47 carryover in the sixth-race Wicked Hi-5 pentafecta. Post time for the first race is 4 p.m.

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