Plainville, MA — Surreal Spirit was the third leading point earner among 3-year-old pacing fillies in the New York Sire Stakes series this year and started in the $300,000 final on Sept. 12. But after getting parked the better part of the mile, she made an unfortunate break. However, 19 days later, on Thursday (Oct. 1), Surreal Spirit was back on her game and won the featured $19,000 pace for 5-year-old and under participants at Plainridge Park — and she did it with a lifetime-best performance.
Surreal Spirit and trainer/driver Jeff Gregory got away second behind No Guts No Glory (Kevin Switzer Jr.), who passed the quarter in :27.3. But just before they straightened out for the first time, Surreal Spirit tipped back out and took over control well before they reached the half. Surreal Spirit continued to pace handily up the backstretch, where Gracies Tough Guy (Michael Oosting) moved first-over from fifth and paced her way to second at three-quarters. As they moved through the turn, Surreal Spirit responded to the challenge and pulled ahead by 2 lengths as they approached the top of the stretch. From there, Surreal Spirit was under a snug grip from Gregory and went on to win in 1:52 as the only filly in the race.
The heavily-backed Surreal Spirit ($3) is owned by Edmund Namiotka Jr., Carol Namiotka and Linda Mund.
In the sub-featured $17,000 upper-level conditioned trot, Feeling Optimistic (Jimmy Hardy) got away fifth behind Wall Street Edge (Jay Randall), who led through quarters of :27.4, :57 and 1:25.1 to three-quarters, where Feeling Optimistic was third-over and only 3 lengths behind in an outer flow led by Consus Victory (Oosting). Positions remained unchanged through the turn until Just Roxy (Matty Athearn) tipped three-wide and Feeling Optimistic went four-deep, both in chase of Wall Street Edge. As they trotted down the lane, Feeling Optimistic found another gear and flew past everyone to win by three-quarters of a length in 1:54.3, just one-fifth of a second off his lifetime mark.
Feeling Optimistic ($10.80) is owned by Moni Talks and trained by Kyle Athearn.
Feeling Optimistic was one of three winners for Hardy during the card, making him the day’s winningest driver.
Then, in the $17,000 conditioned trot for 5-year-olds and under, Jeffrey Neal (Brett Beckwith) remained the hottest horse currently at Plainridge after he extended his winning streak to four. Jeffrey Neal went right to the front and never looked back. After posting splits of :28.2, :57.1 and 1:25 with Ponda Rocky (Nick Graffam) trying to make an impact on the outside during the third quarter, Jeffrey Neal turned for home and held off a late rush from the pocket-sitting Chapter Of Life (Jay Randall) by only a quarter length to win in a career best 1:54.
Jeffrey Neal ($4.40) is owned by K R Breeding and Robert Rudolf and trained by Domenico Cecere.
There was a big payoff in the Wicked Hi-5 in the ninth race. The single unique combination of 5/2/3/4/7 returned $8,606.42 for the 20-cent wager.
Racing at Plainridge Park will resume on Friday (Oct. 2) at 2 p.m. It is the first of five Friday cards that will be run through the end of October. Free full-card past performance programs and replays for every card of racing at Plainridge Park are available at plainridgeparkcasino.com.