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Plainville, MA — Plainridge Park was like a day at the beach for Kevin Switzer Jr. on Tuesday (June 11) after he drove Heinikin Bythebay (Southwind Lynx) and Seaside Tina (Downbytheseaside) to victory in co-featured paces valued at $20,000 each.
In the Winners-Over event for horses and geldings, Switzer got away second with Heinikin Bythebay as Skyway Victor (Jay Randall) took the first lead. But Heinikin Bythebay was out and rolling before the :26.4 quarter and took control of the race in front of the stands.
Switzer throttled down the second panel to :29.2 and gave Heinikin Bythebay a good breather before Alex Having Fun (Bruce Ranger) came first over around the second turn and drew within a length of the leader at three-quarters. Positions remained unchanged around the last turn and when they entered the stretch, Heinikin Bythebay completed his 54 flat back half by pacing away from both Alex Having Fun and Skyway Victor to win by 1-½ lengths in 1:50.1, which was a new lifetime mark.
The 26th career win for Heinikin Bythebay ($2.60) puts him just shy of one-half million in lifetime earnings, as he now boasts $498,058 in the bank for owner KDK Standardbreds and trainer Kevin Switzer.
HEINIKIN BYTHEBAY REPLAY
Then in the Open pace for fillies and mares, Switzer chased down the swift leaving Swedish Starlet N (Aaron Hall) with Seaside Tina at the :26.2 quarter and took the lead just past that station. Seaside Tina then set fractions of :54.4 and 1:22.4 while Quarrel (Bruce Ranger) pushed the issue into the final bend.
When the race entered the top of the stretch, Swedish Starlet N found room at the pegs and started pacing furiously down the lane. Swedish Starlet N drew even with Seaside Tina and then both mares matched strides to the line where the eye couldn’t separate them. However, the photo revealed Seaside Tina got the advantage by a nose and claimed victory in 1:51.1.
It was the fourth win of the year for Seaside Tina ($5.60) who is owned by her trainer Mark Eaton, in partnership with Robert Griffin.
SEASIDE TINA REPLAY
Switzer completed a hat trick with Hes Coming On (1:53.2, $7.40).
There was also a $15,000 Open III for fillies and mares that was won by Dandy’s Evrlasting (Well Said, Aaron Hall) who made a first-over move approaching three-quarters before taking the lead in the stretch. There, Dandy’s Evrlasting pacing away to a three-quarter length victory in 1:52.2, which was a new seasonal mark.
Dandy’s Evrlasting ($11.40) is owned by Dandy Farms Racing and Ft Racing and is trained by Jimmy Nickerson.
DANDY’S EVRLASTING REPLAY
Despite Switzers three-bagger, Bruce Ranger ended the day as the top driver after scoring a grand slam on the card. Ranger won with Can’t Sway Me (1:52, $53.40), CBF Fin (1:53.4, $3.60), Beach Watch (1:52.3, $6.00) and Betterthanhope N (1:52.3, $11.40).
And for the second day in a row, 11 different trainers each scored one win apiece.
Racing resumes at Plainridge Park on Thursday (June 13) with post time at 4 p.m. and the card will feature a $3,131 carryover in the Wicked Hi-5 in race six.
For complete race results, click here: US Trotting results.
by Tim Bojarski, for the Standardbred Owners of Massachusetts
