Alrajah One IT breaks record in $250,000 Spirit Of Massachusetts

Having to race first-over from the half mile was no problem for race favorite Alrajah One IT (Maharajah) as he scored a harness racing track record mile in capturing the $250,000 Spirit Of Massachusetts Trot Monday (July 25) at Plainridge Racetrack.

Driven by Dexter Dunn, who has now won the race three straight years, the last two with world champion Manchego, Alrajah One IT was put to the test.

The 9th race feature saw It’s Academic (Yannick Gingras) go out to the early lead with Incommunicado (Ake Svanstedt) sitting the two-hole seat to the first quarter in :26.1.

Then before the half mile, Forbidden Trade (Mark MacDonald) came charging up to take command going to the half mile in :54.2.

Next up first-over was Lovedbythemasses (Tim Tetrick) and following their live cover was Alrajah One IT and Dunn. Lovedbythemasses then cleared to the lead in the backstretch, leaving Alrajah One IT first-over to the three quarters in 1:22.2.

Then in the stretch, Alrajah One IT put away the competition, going on to win by one and three-quarter lengths in 1:50.3 over It’s Academic with Lovedbythemasses third.

ALRAJAH ONE IT REPLAY

It was only the second start in the USA for Alrajah One IT and the six-year-old stallion remains unbeaten. His first win was in the $147,000 Crawford Farms Trot back on July 2. Alrajah One IT’s win time replaced the 1:51.3 track record that Guardian Angel AS set in the 2019 Spirit of Massachusetts.

Alrajah One IT is trained by Ake Svanstedt for Scuderia My Horse, Inc. of Delray Beach, FL and paid $3.80 to win. His winning time was a new track record.

“Post nine is never easy even with top trotters,” said Dexter Dunn. “He makes it easy. I did have to nurse him a little around that last turn. He does all the hard work and makes my job easy.”

Trainer Jim King, Jr and driver Tim Tetrick notched their fourth straight $100,000 Clara Barton Distaff Pace victory with a tough, grind-it-out victory in 1:50.2 with Lyons Sentinel (Captaintreacherous).

The 8th race co-feature saw Racine Bell (Mark MacDonald) leave like a rocket to take the early lead with Amazing Dream N (Todd McCarthy) able to get the two-hole spot to the first quarter in :26.

Then coming first-over heading to the half mile was the 3/5 favorite, Lyons Sentinel and Tetrick. Following second-over was La Bella Vita N (Shawn Gray) with Grace Hill (Dexter Dunn) third-over past the half mile marker in :55.1.

Racine Bell and MacDonald held the lead with Lyons Sentinel sitting right on the outside to the three quarters in 1:22. As they came around the final turn, Lyons Sentinel kept inching forward and once she straighten out in the stretch, she pulled away to win by two lengths. Gia’s Surreal (Greg Merton) closed well to be second with Racine Bell third.

LYONS SENTINEL REPLAY

For Lyons Sentinel it was her second straight year of winning the Clara Barton and her third win of the season for King and Tetrick. The five-year-old mare is owned by Threelyonsracing of Brantford, Ontario and paid $3.40 to win. The prior two Clara Barton’s were won by Shartin N with Tetrick and King.

“In my mind I felt confident (being first-over),” said Tetrick. “I thought that if I could look the leader in the eye at the three quarters that we would win it.”

In the $50,000 Bert Beckwith Memorial Final it was a bold, three-wide move in the backstretch by Patrikthepiranha A (Four Starzzz Shark) and driver Bruce Ranger that stole the race in a photo finish.

The 7th race Beckwith Memorial started out with Rock Diamond N (Ron Cushing) going to the early lead with Mansome (Kevin Switzer, Jr) getting the two-hole trip. Then a quick move at the :26.3 first quarter by Vel Mr Nice Guy and driver Brett Beckwith, put them in command of the race.

As they came by the grandstand the first time, Pocket Of Terror A and driver Leon Bailey came first-over with 3/2 race favorite, Always A Miki and driver Dexter Dunn had the second over cover as they went by the half mile in :55.1.

Then in the backstretch, just as Pocket Of Terror A was gaining right up on race leader Vel Mr Nice Guy, Patrikthepiranha A and Ranger, who were in seventh place, sweep three-wide into the three-quarters in 1:23.1 and caught right up to the leader three and then four-wide on the final turn for home.

Coming down the stretch, Vel Mr Nice Guy began to fade, Patrikthepiranha A was still coming on and then Always A Miki and Dunn came on with a surge to cause a photo finish mile in 1:51.2.

The camera showed that Patrikthepiranha A won by a half a head over Always A Miki with Pocket Of Terror A third.

PATRIKTHEPIRANHA A REPLAY

It was the sixth win this year for Patrikthepiranha A. The seven-year-old from Australia is trained by Melissa Beckwith for TheStable Patrikthepiranha of Guelph, Ontario. He paid $10.00 to win.

For complete race results, click here.

by Steve Wolf, for Harnesslink