by Lenny Calderone, for Plainridge Racecourse

Plainville, MA — The Awful Truth was awfully tough on Monday afternoon, July 7, winning the elimination of the seventh annual Stan Bergstein Pace at Plainridge Racecourse. The mile in 1:52 established a new track record for 3-year-old pacers at the Massachusetts track.

Plainridge Racecourse photo

The Awful Truth set a track record of 1:52 in winning the Stan Bergstein Pace elimination.

Overlooked by the wagering public despite having been established as the morning line favorite, The Awful Truth and driver Brewer Adams settled in fourth position as the field left the gate in post position order. Approaching the quarter pole, which was paced in :26.4, favored Yankee Rocketeer (Kevin Lare) brushed to the lead and led past the half in :55.3.

On the backstretch Adams tipped the son of Western Hanover to the outside and simply blew past the leaders, stopping the clock at 1:23 for three parts of the mile. Turning for home “The Truth” and Adams received gritty pressure from Ezpz Lemonsqueezy (Robert Sumner) but held off the only filly in the nine-horse field and prevailed by three-quarters of a length. Yankee Rocketeer retained the show spot, 1-3/4 lengths back. The Awful Truth rewarded his backers with an awfully nice win ticket of $13.20.

The event’s namesake, Stan Bergstein, was on hand at Plainridge and made the presentation to the winning connections in the winner’s circle. The Awful Truth is owned by three veteran New England horsepeople, Fred Greenwood, Wayne Smith and Mary Craig. Smith trains The Awful Truth, who notched his fifth lifetime victory in just 14 starts in this his first season of racing.

The $26,100 final of the Stan Bergstein Pace will be contested at Plainridge Racecourse next Monday, July 14. First post is at 4:00 p.m.