Plainville, MA — For the second straight week at Plainridge Park, Tualou N went gate-to-wire and registered a new lifetime mark in the featured $19,000 upper-level conditioned pace on Tuesday (Sept. 15), which was a day littered with career performances.
Tualou N (Bruce Ranger) left sharply from post 8 and set up shop on the point with the public’s choice, Southpaw (Jimmy Whittemore), sitting right on his back. Tualou N cut quarters of :26.4, :56 and 1:22.4 while extending his lead to 2 lengths before entering the final turn. Positions remained unchanged until the top of the stretch, where Southpaw left the pylons and tried to catch the leader. Southpaw paced home in :26.4 and made up almost 2 lengths, but he came up a neck shy as Tualou N hung on for the win in 1:50, dropping his career best time once again.
Tualou N ($21.20) is owned by Caldwell Mamie Racing and trained by Cory Stratton.
Another lifetime mark and the fastest mile of the day came in the $16,000 fillies and mares pace, where Take Your Pick scorched a huge mile in victory.
Take Your Pick (Brett Beckwith) also opted for the lead, seating Moth hunter A (Matty Athearn) and Ambushed (Drew Monti) in the process. After getting to the half in :54.3, Take your Pick was attacked by Ambushed, who moved first-over in the breeze heading up the backstretch. Midway to three-quarters, Moth Hunter A started to fade and Ambushed slid over to the pegs and drafted behind Take Your Pick from the five-eighths, past the 1:21.4 three-quarters and around the last turn, until they reached seven-eighths, where Ambushed tipped off cover. Ambushed had a length to make up but only gained a half as Take Your Pick was tough and hung on to win in 1:49.4, which was a new career-best clocking.
It was the 25th career win for Take Your Pick ($3) for owner Pollack Racing and trainer Enrico Robinson.
There was another $16,000 conditioned pace that was a conduit to a career mark for the Massachusetts-bred Call Me Maverick (Michael Oosting), who got away fifth behind Charlie’s Wish (Nick Graffam), who paced to three-quarters in 1:21.4. At that point, Call Me Maverick was second-over in the outer flow heading around the last turn before finding room in the middle of the track to bolt home ahead by 2 lengths in 1:50.2, resetting his lifetime mark.
Call Me Maverick ($4.40) is owned by Upland Farm and trained by Alison Hynes.
There were also two $15,000 Romper Room races for 2-year-old pacers who are eligible to the lucrative $3.2 million (est.) Massachusetts Breeders Stakes, which starts on Monday, Sept. 28.
The first went to Sting Me (Perfect Sting-Gallie On Thebeach), who tripped out for Mitchell Cushing to a 3-3/4-length win in 1:53.4, which was a lifetime mark. Sting Me ($6) is owned by Nancy and Domenic Longobardi and trained by George Ducharme. Blue Chip Bloodstock bred the winner.
The second was won by Chase News Network (Bettor’s Wish-Hidden Land), whom Shawn Gray rated on the point from gate to wire in 1:55.3. Chase News Network ($10) is owned and bred by Jesmeral Stable and trained by Matty Medeiros.
Drivers Matty Athearn and Michael Oosting and trainer Jimmy Whittemore, all had two wins on Tuesday.
Racing at Plainridge Park will resume on Thursday (Sept. 17) at 2 p.m. Free full-card past performance programs and replays for every card of racing at Plainridge Park are available at plainridgeparkcasino.com.