Pirate takes the loot in Plainridge trot series

Plainville, MA – The first $10,000 leg of the special Columbus Day weekend trotting series for Plainridge Park based horses dubbed “The Nina” was held on Sunday (Oct. 13) and fittingly enough was won by Pirate in a come-from-behind attack.

Pirate took the first leg of the special Columbus Day weekend trotting series Sunday at Plainridge Park. Tom Melanson Photo.

L Dees Yoyo Ma (Drew Campbell) took the lead and set a speedy tempo from the start. Hitting the splits in :28.1, :57.3 and 1:25.4, L Dees Yoyo Ma took a three-length advantage into the final turn of the race. Pirate (Ivan Davies) who had gotten away fifth, was drafting second-over behind the favored Mouthpiece (Mark Athearn) at that last station and looked to have a lot of trot. Turning for home, Pirate made his way to second but still had two-lengths to make up on the leader. Davies kept after Pirate down the lane and he continued to gain, eventually catching L Dees Yoyo Ma at the wire in 1:56.

It was the fifth win of the year for Pirate ($7) and owners Earl and Kathy Beaman. His driver Davies also trains the winner.

There will be one more leg of The Nina next Sunday (Oct. 20), culminating in a $20,000 final on Sunday (Oct. 27).

There were also five divisions of 5-year-old and under non-winner events on the card that were highlighted by two particular pacing performances.

Pure Sunshine (Ron Cushing) drafted second for almost the whole mile before tipping out at the top of the far turn to run down Chief Of Staff (Kevin Switzer Jr.) in the stretch to win by 1-1/4 lengths in a new lifetime mark of 1:54.1.

Pure Sunshine ($16.20) is a 3-year-old colt owned by Barbara Berger, Tamms Horse Farm, Theresa Donnelly and  Fernando Amesti Jr. Heidi Gibbs is the trainer.

Earlier in the card, Levi (Scott Renz) put in an impressive gate to wire showing to win by 1-1/4 lengths over a fast closing Wild Eyed Yankee (Drew Monti) in 1:54.4. Levi ($4) is owned by Stephen Richard and is trained by his driver Renz.

Levi is a Massachusetts-bred 3-year-old gelding who currently sits in second place in the $1.8 million Massachusetts Sire Stakes. The series is off this week but will return to action next Sunday afternoon (Oct. 20).

Racing resumes at Plainridge Park on Monday (Oct. 14) at 2 p.m.

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