Dandy’s Evrlasting goes down the road in Mares Open

Plainville, MA — Coming off a lifetime best effort of 1:50.3 last week, Dandy’s Evrlasting (Well Said) bounced right back and won again in decisive fashion in the $25,000 harness racing featured Winners-Over pace for fillies and mares at Plainridge Park on Thursday afternoon (June 29).

Matty Athearn sent Dandy’s Evrlasting to the front and led at every station from there. After getting to the half in :55.4, an outer flow formed, headed by La Bella Vita N (Shawn Gray) who was pacing in the breeze, a length behind the leader at three-quarters.

When they reached the top of the stretch, that margin was down to one-half length and the field was starting to bunch with Wolverina (Nick Graffam) and Racey Rach N (Bruce Ranger) joining the fray. As the girls headed towards the line, Athearn asked for more and got it from Dandy’s Evrlasting, who dug in and separated by 1-¾ lengths to win in 1:51.4.

It was the sixth victory of the year for the 4-year-old Dandy’s Evrlasting ($14.60) who is owned by Dandy Farms Racing and Ft Racing Stable. Jimmy Nickerson was the winning trainer.

DANDY’S EVRLASTING REPLAY

Athearn and Nickerson also combined to win with Hespoisedtopounce A (1:50.1, $2.60) and Givenupdreaming (1:52.2, $4.80) to claim the team hat trick.

There was a pair of $20,000 co-featured paces that saw both winners take new lifetime marks.

First, Duke Of Cornwall N (Sweet Lou) and driver Mitchell Cushing put in a powerful performance by coming first-over past the quarter to take the lead before the half, and then maintained a 1-½ length lead for the remainder of the race to win easily in a career best 1:49.2.

It was the fourth straight win for Duke Of Cornwall N ($2.20) and owner Richard Poillucci. Tahnee Camilleri trains the winner.

DUKE OF CORNWALL N REPLAY

In the second event, Little Willy (Up The Credit) and driver Brett Beckwith was in his element on the point, setting fractions of :26.3, :55.3 and 1:23.1 before turning for home and holding off a tripped-out Skyway Victor (Mitchell Cushing) to win by one-half length in 1:50.4 to take his lifetime mark.

Little Willy ($9.20) is owned and trained by Melissa Beckwith.

LITTLE WILLY REPLAY

Team Beckwith also won with Boston (1:51.4, $3.00) to get a double for the day.

Drivers Mitchell Cushing and Shawn Gray joined the Beckwiths with two wins each on Thursday.

Live racing will resume at Plainridge Park on Monday (July 3) at 4 p.m. and there will be a $5,261 carryover in the Wicked Hi-5 pentafecta wager in race six.

For complete race results, click here.

by Tim Bojarski, for the Standardbred Owners of Massachusetts