Shawn Gray hits for six at Plainridge

Plainville, MA — It was better than a hat trick or a grand slam; it was ‘Gray-mazing.’

That’s the only way you could describe what Shawn Gray did at Plainridge Park on Thursday afternoon (Sept. 10). He won six consecutive races in which he drove, much to the delight of those who backed him at the windows.

Shawn Gray won six of Thursday afternoons 11 races at Plainridge Park. Tim Bojarski photo.

After finishing third in the first race, Gray won races three through seven as well as the ninth race. He did not have a drive in race eight. Gray’s win total also accounted for over half of the races during the 11-race card.

Among Gray’s six-pack was a victory in the featured $12,000 Winners-Over distaff pace with Firstup.

Firstup got away fourth in a :26.3 first panel before brushing to the point by the half, but she was not alone. Pasultimatedelite N (Drew Campbell) paced strongly right beside her and pushed the issue to a 1:22 three-quarter split. Gray asked the mare for more just past that station, and she responded. Firstup opened up a four-length lead with an eighth of a mile to go and kicked away to a wrapped-up 7-1/2 length advantage at the wire in 1:50.3. The time was a new career mark.

It was the second straight win for Firstup ($4.60) at Plainridge Park for the Jesmeral Stable. Sheena McElhiney trains the mare.

Gray also won with Weekend Getaway (1:51.1, $3.80), Suzie Blue Chip (1:54.4, $2.60), Gottalovemyshadow (1:51.1, $4.20), Brenda’s Got It (1:53, $6.00) and Mary Goodnight (1:53, $3.80).

Gray’s sulky superiority vaulted him into the lead for driving honors for the meet. Gray now has 42 wins, one ahead of Drew Monti and six in front of Bruce Ranger and Mitchell Cushing who are tied for third.

Racing resumes at Plainridge Park on Friday (Sept. 11) at 2 p.m.

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