Plainville, MA — A pair of $25,000 Open Handicap events headlines the card at Plainridge Park on Thursday (Oct. 2) and both winners scored their second straight victories at the top level.
The trotters lined up first, and Marquis Lafayette made it look easy.
Marquis Lafayette (Bruce Ranger) got away third and watched Big Box Hanover (Larry Stalbaum) trip the timer in :26.3 and :55.4. Then Ranger pulled Marquis Lafayette heading onto the backstretch and ended up on top by two lengths at three-quarters and by three lengths at the top of the stretch. From there, Marquis Lafayette was under Ranger wraps and cruised home easily in 1:53.
Marquis Lafayette ($5.00) is owned by Greathorse and trained by Domenico Cecere.
Then, in the Distaff pace, Always Bstunning N closed late in a thrilling finish.
Swedish Starlet N (Matty Athearn) had the early lead and took the field to the quarter in :26.1 before Uptown Hanover (Mitchell Cushing) motored to the top past that station and got to the half in :54.3. At this point, Always Bstunning N (Kevin Switzer Jr.) was eighth and last but would soon be third-over in an outer flow led by Side Piece (Bruce Ranger). These positions remained unchanged around the last turn, where Swedish Starlet N found room along the pylons and shot to the lead halfway down the stretch. But Always Bstunning N was five-wide in the middle of the stretch and smoking with pace. The two mares matched strides on opposite sides of the track, and Always Bstunning N pulled ahead in the shadow of the wire and won in 1:51.
It was the ninth win of the year for Always Bstunning ($6.80), who is owned by Richard Poillucci and trained by Gretchen Athearn.
Brett Beckwith led all drivers with five wins on the program: One Bettor (1:56, $3.80), Slick Leonard (1:55.4, $25.60), Hey Jude Hanover (1:53.2, $8.20), Alamo Mission (1:54, $4.40) and Sweet Carollou (1:53.1, $4.20). Beckwith is the leading driver at the current Plainridge meet with 110 wins to this point, nine ahead of the second-place Nick Graffam.
Live racing at Plainridge Park will resume on Friday (Oct. 3) at 2 p.m., and there will be a $2,602 carryover in the Wicked Hi-5 in the sixth race.
Free full past performance programs and race replays for all live racing days at Plainridge Park can be found at plainridgeparkcasino.com.