Plainville, MA — Despite being assigned post eight in the $20,000 fillies and mares Open Handicap pace at Plainridge Park on Tuesday (June 25) afternoon, Swedish Starlet N made every post a winning one after touring the facility in a career best, 1:52 mile.

Swedish Starlet N goes career best in Plainridge Open. Tom Melanson photo.

Matty “Ice” Athearn left sharply with Swedish Starlet N and was in control at the quarter in :27.3 while Alittlesidehustle N (Kevin Switzer Jr.) tracked from second. As the race made its way to the half, Side Piece (Drew Monti) made a first-over move from sixth and rapidly gained ground on the leader as they straightened up the backstretch.

Side Piece drew alongside Swedish Starlet N and the girls started a battle that would last to the wire. They hit three-quarters in 1:24.2 and then matched strides around the last turn. When they started down the stretch, neither mare would give way, but Swedish Starlet N had the edge going in over Side Piece and refused to lose at the wire where she claimed victory by a neck in 1:52, establishing a new lifetime mark.

It was the seventh win of the year for Swedish Starlet N ($6.40) who is owned by Tim Bojarski and Tony Gruppo. Jimmy Nickerson was the winning trainer.

Athearn ended the day with a grand slam in the bike while Nickerson completed the card with two training wins, as they both led their respective categories for the afternoon.

In the secondary featured $14,000 pace, Sweet Jeff IR (Nick Graffam) sat second behind ER Griffin (Bruce Ranger) through quarters of :26.2, :54.4 and 1:23. Then at the top of the stretch, Graffam dipped Sweet Jeff IR low to the pylons and outpaced ER Griffin to the wire and won by a head in 1:52, setting a new lifetime mark.

Sweet Jeff IR ($4.80) is owned by Burke Racing and Weaver Bruscemi and is trained by Joe Nelson.

Live racing will resume at Plainridge Park on Thursday (June 27) with post time at 4 p.m.