Plainville, MA — For the second week in a row, Turn The Page N (Vincent) came from off the pace to capture the $25,000 fillies and mares Open Handicap harness racing pacing feature at Plainridge Park on Tuesday (Aug. 20) afternoon.
Swedish Starlet N (Matty Athearn) was first to the front as Turn The Page N (Ron Cushing) tucked in fourth. Swedish Starlet N got to the half in :56 when Turn The Page N pulled first-over and drew alongside the leader at the five-eighths marker.
With the race now a two-horse dash, Swedish Starlet N and Turn The Page N paced furiously stride for stride from three-quarters, around the last turn and all the way down the stretch before Turn The Page N pulled ahead by one-half length at the line to win in 1:50.4 on the strength of a torrid :54.4 back half.
It was the fifth win in eight starts this year for Turn The Page N ($2.60) who is owned by her driver Cushing, in partnership with Kevin Sywyk. Carlos Rodriguez trains the winner.
TURN THE PAGE N REPLAY
It was one of two wins on the card for the Cushing/Rodriguez tandem.
Earlier in the $18,500 conditioned pace for 5-year-olds and under, Goliath Hanover (Betting Line) and driver Brett Beckwith took a quick lead off the gate and set solid fractions of :26.4, :55.4 and 1:24.2 before rounding the last turn and heading into the stretch where he held off strong challenges from Sweet Jeff IR (Nick Graffam) and Maggie At Bat (Matty Athearn) to win by a length in 1:52.1.
The lone three-year-old in the field against older horses, it was the second straight win at Plainridge and the third win in the last four starts for Goliath Hanover ($2.40) who is owned by Triple D Stables and trained by Mark Beckwith.
GOLIATH HANOVER REPLAY
Bruce Ranger led all drivers for wins on Tuesday after getting the hat trick in the bike.
Live racing will resume at Plainridge Park on Thursday (Aug 22) 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