Plainville, MA — A pair of $25,000 Open class races were featured at Plainridge Park on Thursday (Oct. 9) and winners Always Bstunning N and Platinum AS used similar paths to victory.
The pacing fillies and mares lined up first in their Open Handicap and when the gate released the girls, Swedish Starlet N (Matty Athearn) went directly to the front, but soon found herself sparring with Intothemysticmoon (Nick Graffam) through fast early fractions of :26.3 and :54.2. Passing the half, Always Bstunning N (Kevin Switzer Jr.) pulled second over behind the parked Intothemysticmoon and drafted with her cover through the :28.3 third quarter. At the top of the lane, Swedish Starlet N had put away Intothemysticmoon, but Always Bstunning N was three-deep and flying, forged to the front by a length in deep stretch and won in 1:51.3.
It was the third consecutive Open victory at Plainridge and 10th win overall this year for Always Bstunning N ($3.00) who is owned by Richard Poillucci and trained by Gretchen Athearn.
Then in the Open trot, Sforza (Bruce Ranger) left from post eight and took the lead passing the :26.1 quarter. Sforza then trotted to the half in :55 where A New Leader (Mitchell Cushing) came first-over and brought Platinum AS (Brett Beckwith) in tow as they headed to three-quarters. Positions remained unchanged through the turn, but at the top of the stretch, Platinum AS came off-cover and bolted to the line a handy winner by 2-¼ lengths in 1:53.2.
It was the ninth win of the year for Platinum AS ($7.80) who is owned by his driver, Brett Beckwith, in partnership with FAC Racing and Yannick Gingras. Melissa Beckwith trains the winner.
Mitchell Cushing and Bruce Ranger both had driving triples while Wil Dubois had two training tallies.
Live racing will resume at Plainridge Park on Friday (Oct. 10) at 2 p.m.
Free full past performance programs and race replays for all live racing days at Plainridge Park can be found at plainridgeparkcasino.com.