Plainville, MA — Royalty Again and Drew Monti turned a first-over grind into a hard-earned victory in the $12,000 featured pace for fillies and mares at Plainridge Park on Thursday afternoon (Aug. 20).

With rivals on either side, Royalty Again dug deep and kept her orange bridle in front at the winning post in Thursday’s Plainridge feature. Tom Melanson photo.

Rockin Ellie (Bruce Ranger) took the early lead going to the quarter, but then Mary Goodnight (Shawn Gray) made a quick move to take control past the half. As soon as Mary Goodnight got the lead, Royalty Again pulled from third and pushed the issue as the race moved up the backside.

At the five-eighths pole, Royalty Again pulled alongside Mary Goodnight and the two tussled toe-to-toe around the far turn and into the stretch. Three pylons down the lane, Royalty Again gained control, and under heavy urging from Monti held off the fast-closing Rockin Ellie and After The Lovin (Jim Hardy) to win by a neck in 1:53.2, which was a new lifetime mark.

It was the second win in the last three starts for Royalty Again ($12.40), who is owned by Richard Knight and trained by Randy Bickmore.

There were also a pair of $10,000 conditioned events for fillies and mares on the 11-race card.

In the first, American Arrow (Mitchell Cushing) took the lead before the half and controlled the rest of the mile. She snapped off a fast :27.3 third quarter to put some distance between her and the field and then coasted home in :28.4 to a 3-3/4 length, 1:52.1 win, which was a new lifetime mark.

With that effort, American Arrow also set a new track record for 3-year-old pacing fillies at Plainridge Park.

It was the third win in the last four starts for American Arrow ($7.60), who is owned by George, Joann and Heather Zitone and is trained by Melissa Beckwith.

The second saw McNugget (Bruce Ranger) get away fourth behind Lifestory Hanover (Drew Monti) before pulling second-over past the half to follow the cover Shes A Fireball (Ron Cushing) to the top of the lane. From there, Ranger tipped Mcnugget off the cover and paced away to the wire by 1-1/2 lengths to win in 1:54, which was another new lifetime mark.

McNugget ($4.00) has now won two out of her last three starts for owners Just Enough and Mike Girouard, who also trains the filly.

Mitchell Cushing, Shawn Gray and Kevin Switzer Jr. all had driving doubles, and trainers Melissa Beckwith and Randy Bickmore did the same on the conditioning side.

Racing resumes at Plainridge Park on Friday (Aug. 21), with post time at 4 p.m.