With 7th win a career best, Swedish Starlet N keeps on rolling

Plainville, MA — Despite being assigned post eight in the $20,000 fillies and mares Open Handicap pace at Plainridge Park, Swedish Starlet N (Mach Three) made every post a winning one after touring the facility in a harness racing career best, 1:52 mile.

Matty “Ice” Athearn left sharply with Swedish Starlet N and was in control at the quarter in :27.3 while Alittlesidehustle N (Kevin Switzer Jr.) tracked from second. As the race made its way to the half, Side Piece (Drew Monti) made a first-over move from sixth and rapidly gained ground on the leader as they straightened up the backstretch.

Side Piece drew alongside Swedish Starlet N and the girls started a battle that would last to the wire. They hit three-quarters in 1:24.2 and then matched strides around the last turn. When they started down the stretch, neither mare would give way, but Swedish Starlet N had the edge going in over Side Piece and refused to lose at the wire where she claimed victory by a neck in 1:52, establishing a new lifetime mark.

It was the seventh win of the year for Swedish Starlet N ($6.40) who is owned by Tim Bojarski and Tony Gruppo. Jimmy Nickerson was the winning trainer.

SWEDISH STARLET N REPLAY

Athearn ended the day with a grand slam in the bike while Nickerson completed the card with two training wins, as they both led their respective categories for the afternoon.

In the secondary featured $14,000 pace, Sweet Jeff IR (Sweet Lou) and driver Nick Graffam sat second behind ER Griffin (Bruce Ranger) through quarters of :26.2, :54.4 and 1:23. Then at the top of the stretch, Graffam dipped Sweet Jeff IR low to the pylons and outpaced ER Griffin to the wire and won by a head in 1:52, setting a new lifetime mark.

Sweet Jeff IR ($4.80) is owned by Burke Racing and Weaver Bruscemi and is trained by Joe Nelson.

SWEET JEFF IR REPLAY

Live racing will resume at Plainridge Park on Thursday (June 27) with post time at 4 p.m.

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

by Tim Bojarski, for the Standardbred Owners of Massachusetts