The Wild Card, Woody’s Cash Crop capture Plainridge features

Plainville, MA — After a lot of shuffling early in the race, The Wild Card finished with a winning hand in the $25,000 harness racing pacing feature at Plainridge Park on Monday afternoon (Aug. 14).

The Wild Card (Brett Beckwith) got away sixth and watched the mad scramble up front that saw several lead changes before the half. Odds On Blockchain (Shawn Gray) led first, but then Skyway Victor (Mitchell Cushing) took the top at the :26.1 quarter. Immediately, Odds On Blockchain came back out to retake and then was faced with a challenge from Bag Pipe Major (Pat Curtain) as they passed the stands. Odds On Blockchain gave Bag Pipe Major the cold shoulder and kept him parked to three-quarters in 1:22.3. It was there that The Wild Card had advanced on the outside and swung three-deep heading into the last turn. The Wild Card drew even with Odds On Blockchain and at the head of the stretch and then paced away under a line-drive from Beckwith to win by 2-¾ lengths in 1:50.4.

THE WILD CARD REPLAY

It was the first win of 2023 for The Wild Card ($4.60) who is owned by Scott Dillon. Joe Nelson trains the winner.

The secondary feature was a $20,000 District 9 pace for New England owned horses and it was won by Woody’s Cash Crop in a squeaker.

General Ward (Brett Beckwith) was the commander of fractions and marched the field to the half in :56.1. The outer flow formed there with Odds On Lauderdale (Jay Randall) first up, and Woody’s Cash Crop (Nick Graffam) right on his tail. These positions remained unchanged until the top of the last turn where Graffam tipped Woody’s Cash Crop three-deep and advanced on the leader. As they headed down the lane, Woody’s Cash Crop had overtaken General Ward and also turned back a late bid from Miki U So Fine (Mitchell Cushing) to win by one-quarter length in 1:52.4.

WOODY’S CASH CROP REPLAY

It was the second win in the last three starts for Woody’s Cash Crop ($9.40) who is owned by his trainer Mike Graffam, in conjunction with Robert Holden and Judith Ambrose.

The father and son Graffam duo also won with Sailor Jerry (1:52.3, $6.40) and Hollywood Skeeter (1:56.1, $5.60) to get the tag team triple and lead all horsemen in their respective categories on Monday.

Live racing will resume at Plainridge Park on Tuesday (Aug. 15) at 4 p.m. and there will be a $4,417 carryover in the Wicked Hi-5 pentafecta wager in race six.

For complete race results, click here: US Trotting results.

by Tim Bojarski, for the Standardbred Owners of Massachusetts