Beckwith sweeps features on five win day

Plainville, MA —  Three $25,000 Open events – one on the trot and two on the pace – were featured at Plainridge Park on Monday (Sept. 8) afternoon and all three were won by horses driven by Brett Beckwith, who had a harness racing five-bagger in the bike.

First in the Open trot, Beckwith settled in second with Platinum AS (E L Titan) behind Sforza (Shawn Gray) who took the field to the half in :55.3. Moving up the backside, Marquis Lafayette (Bruce Ranger) made a first-over move and drew alongside his stablemate Sforza, and the two matched strides around the last turn and into the stretch. But as those two battled, Platinum AS found room at the pegs, shot through and pulled ahead by 1-¼ lengths to win in 1:53.

PLATINUM AS REPLAY

It was the eighth win of the year for Platinum AS ($6.80) who is owned by his driver Beckwith, in partnership with FAC Racing and Yannick Gingras. Melissa Beckwith trains the winner.

Then in the Group One Open Pace, Taipo N (Bruce Ranger) and Tenzing Bromac N (Ron Cushing) traded leads during the first three-eighths, with Tenzing Bromac N settling on the point and getting to the half in :53.2.

The quick pace prompted a quick response from Beckwith, who pulled first-over from third at five-eighths with Fearful Intent, who was followed closely by Two Fold Cold (David Ingraham). Fearful Intent matched strides with Tenzing Bromac N around the far turn and eventually wore him down as they entered the stretch. Another challenge came from Two Fold Cold as they neared the wire, but Fearful Intent hung on by one-quarter length to win in 1:49.1, which was a new lifetime mark.

FEARFUL INTENT REPLAY

It was the fifth straight win at Plainridge Park for Fearful Intent ($5.20) who is owned by Pollock Racing and trained by Jeff Cullipher.

Finally, in the Group Two Open Pace, Beckwith got away fifth with Stonebridge Reef as Sweet Jeff IR (Nick Graffam) and Heinikin Bythebay (Kevin Switzer Jr.) traded leads to the half. Heinikin Bythebay got there first in :54.4 as Stonebridge Reef was then put into play, first-over as they moved to three-quarters. Heinikin Bythebay fought hard and held Stonebridge Reef in check around the far turn and into the stretch. But when they straightened for home, Stonebridge Reef edged ahead by a length to win in 1:51.4.

STONEBRIDGE REEF REPLAY

Stonebridge Reef ($3.20) also hails from the Pollock/Cullipher connections.

Beckwith completed his productive day with wins behind Sunsational (1:53.3, $15.40) and Jackson Cooper (1:50.4. $12.00).

As a result of his very productive afternoon, Brett Beckwith has now moved into first place in the dash driving competition at Plainridge with 90 wins, pulling two ahead of Nick Graffam, who had been leading the parade for several weeks.

Live racing will resume at Plainridge Park on Tuesday (Sept. 9) at 2 p.m.

Free full past performance programs and race replays for all live racing days at Plainridge Park can be found at plainridgeparkcasino.com.

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

by Tim Bojarski, for Plainridge Park