Plainville, MA – There were no arguments from Negotiator, who let his actions do the talking as he settled the matter of a win in the $25,000 Baystate Special at Plainridge Park on Thursday (Nov. 13) afternoon.
Negotiator (Mitchel Cushing) got away sixth as Hespoisedtopounce A (Matty Athearn) led the field through quarters of :27.3 and :56.3. At that second station an outer flow was in place, led by Anvil Hands (Jim Hardy), who was followed by Mansome (Ron Cushing) and Negotiator.
With the field in two rows, Hespoisedtpounce A and Anvil Hands matched strides to three-quarters and around the last turn, where Mansome tipped three-wide around Anvil Hands and Negotiator went four-wide around him. Anvil Hands took the lead at the top of the stretch, but Mansome took it from him three pylons down before Negotiator got up late to beat Mansome by a neck at the light in 1:53.3.
It was the third win in the last five starts and fifth win overall this year for Negotiator ($11), who is owned by Ray Lasky and his driver, Mitchell Cushing, who also trains the gelding.
Earlier in the $20,000 upper-level conditioned pace, Fourever Boy (Brett Beckwith) sat fourth as Frisco Bay N (Aaron Byron) and Price Control (Mitchell Cushing) traded leads to the half in :55.4. Price Control then led the field up the backstretch, where Beckwith pulled Fourever Boy first-over heading to three-quarters. Price Control tripped the timer there in 1:24.1, but then Fourever Boy cruised right by him and had the lead at the top of the stretch. From there, Fourever Boy was wrapped-up and strode out to a 1-3/4 length win in 1:52.3.
It was the 23rd lifetime win in only 115 lifetime starts for the millionaire Fourever Boy, who now has earnings of $1,145,837 for owner Micki Rae Stables. Melissa Beckwith trains the winner.
Fourever Boy will be starting a new career next year away from the track as he will be standing his first season at stud. At the close of the current Plainridge meet, Fourever Boy will ship to Chris Coyle in North Carolina for fertility testing and he is slated to do stallion duty in both Virginia and Maine in 2026.
For all the long-shot lovers, there was a huge upset in the day’s first race when Jay Randall drove Dan Tuccillo Jr.’s Waves to a 1:54, 2-1/4 length victory. The 47-1 shot returned $96.20 for a $2 win wager.
Kevin Switzer Jr. had a big day at The Ridge on Thursday, scoring a grand slam during the afternoon. “Swit” won with Meadowbrook Flash (1:53, $10.80), Giggitygiggitygiggty (1:55, $10.80), P L Pasquale (1:52.4, $13.80) and Jettingtomalibu (1:51.4, $6.80).
And once again, 10 different trainers each won one race apiece during Thursday’s program.
Live racing will resume at Plainridge Park on Friday (Nov. 14) 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.