Plainville, MA — Live longshots who won a trio of top class races at Plainridge Park on Monday (July 13) sent chalk bettors home dismayed as savvy speculators cashed in handsomely.
First, in the $25,000 Open for male pacers, Still Rollin N went the mile of his life as he won his first North American race.
Still Rollin N (Matty Athearn) got away fourth as Mysadsaid A (Drew Monti) seated Rockin On Venus (Bruce Ranger) before passing the quarter in :26.3. Now in line, Mysadsaid A reached the half in :54.4 as Binge On Yankee (Mitchell Cushing) moved first-over and brought Still Rollin N with him in the breeze.
Binge On Yankee pushed Mysadsaid A to a brisk three-quarters of 1:21.4 before the pair continued to match strides to the top of the stretch. But at that point, Athearn tipped Still Rollin N to the middle of the track and he paced away by three-quarters of a length to win in 1:50, which was a new lifetime mark.
Still Rollin N ($19.40) is owned by VIP Internet Stable and his trainer, Amanda Kelley.
Then in the $22,500 Op1en Handicap trot, the lone mare in the race, Corner Store, also captured her first win of the year.
Corner Store (Brett Beckwith) got away fifth off the gate while Morning Edition (Shawn Gray) set early fractions of :27 and :56 while towing Ordained (Nick Graffam), who sat second the whole time. Pepper Wow (Mitchell Cushing) pulled first and provided cover for Corner Store, who was following on the outside, fourth.
The race reached three-quarters in 1:24 with the front markers still in place. Morning Edition held the lead around the turn, but at the top of the stretch, the lead was about to change as Ordained was making his move, but Corner Store made a better one, cruising by everyone to win in deep stretch by 1-1/4 lengths in 1:52.4.
Corner Store ($14.20) set a seasonal mark for owners Paul Kelley, Matthew Lamont, Ellen Palillo and Nancy Bauer.
Finally in the $25,000 Open Handicap pace for fillies and mares, Acushla Machree N bolted late to win in a lifetime best.
Acushla Machree N (Mitchell Cushing) got away sixth as Mrs. Cheese (Brett Beckwith) stormed to the front in :26. Then after passing the half in :54.1, Custard Dolce (Drew Monti) moved first-over and Acushla Machree N was eager to follow.
Positions remained unchanged to three quarters and around the last turn, but when the group turned for home that all changed. Mrs. Cheese and Custard Dolce watched as Acushla Machree N tipped off her cover and paced to the front, eventually winning by a length over the fast closing Swedish Starlet N (Matty Athearn) in 1:50.2, which was a new lifetime mark.
Acushla Machree N ($27.60) is owned by Ray Campbell Jr. and trained by Gretchen Athearn.
Earlier in the fourth race, Living Lindy (Bruce Ranger) won a mid-level conditioned trot in 1:52 and smashed the Plainridge Park track record for 3-year-old trotting geldings (formerly 1:53.1). Living Lindy ($10.00) is owned by Lindy Farms of Connecticut and trained by Domenico Cecere.
Brett Beckwith led all drivers with four wins on Monday. Aside from the already mentioned Corner Store, Beckwith also won with Twin N Sunkissed (1:50.3, $13.00), Arizona (1:51.2, $2.40) and Mullinax (1:49.4, $5.00).
Enrico Robinson topped all trainers with a pair of wins during the program.
Racing will resume at Plainridge Park on Tuesday (July 14) at 4 p.m.
Free full card past performance programs for every live card of racing at Plainridge Park can always be downloaded at their website (plainridgeparkcasino.com) under the “Racing” tab. You can also watch all the race replays on that same page.