Constant pressure does not faze Alluneedisfaith N

Plainville, MA — After spending July in Indiana at Hoosier Park, Alluneedisfaith N (Art Major) relocated to the Bay State for August and kicked off his mid-summer harness racing campaign with an impressive win in the $20,000 Open Handicap pacing feature at Plainridge Park on Monday afternoon (Aug 8).

Shawn Gray left with conviction behind Alluneedisfaith N forcing Moonshine Kisses (Jay Randall) to seat fourth, but eventually yielded to Rollinlikethunder (Matty Athearn) who went to the top. But Gray was immediately out and rolling again past the :26.2 quarter to regain the lead but as they rolled past the half, Moonshine Kisses came first up in the breeze and drew alongside Alluneedisfaith N and the match race was on.

The two pacers matched strides up the backside to three-quarters in 1:22 and then all the way around the last turn to the top of the stretch. There, Alluneedisfaith N started to separate from Moonshine Kisses, began to stride out and eventually hit the line on top by 1-¼ lengths in 1:50.2.

The sixth win of the year for Alluneedisfaith N ($4.40) pushed his lifetime earnings over the half-million mark, now showing $502,083 on the card for owner Douglas Overhiser. Alicia Gray trains the winner.

ALLUNEEDISFAITH N REPLAY

Shawn Gray ended the day with three visits to the winner’s circle.

The undercard $17,500 upper-level conditioned pace saw the fleet-footed Keystone Dakota (Art Major) go gate to wire in a new personal best clocking.

Brett Beckwith took advantage of pole position and flew to the front with Keystone Dakota, hitting the quarter in :26 flat. Not taking much of a breather, the leader skated to the half in :54.2 and no one was willing to tip into that speed.

Eventually Mullinax (Drew Campbell) pulled from third and applied as much pressure as he could as they flew to three-quarters in 1:21.4. As the race spun off the far turn, Keystone Dakota just kept on pacing and the competition couldn’t catch him. Beckwith shooed him home and won by 1-¾ lengths over the fast closing Oakwoodnitownit IR (Jim Hardy) in a lifetime best 1:50.2.

It was the sixth win of the year for Keystone Dakota ($7.80) who is owned by Howard Jacobs and trained by Melissa Beckwith.

KEYSTONE DAKOTA REPLAY

Brett Beckwith and Melissa Beckwith both had two wins on Monday.

In the $15,000 conditioned pace, Mansome (Somebeachsomewhere) down in class after starting in the $50,000 Bert Beckwith Memorial two weeks ago and put a circle around a solid field of side-wheelers.

Mansome took the cue of Bruce Ranger and shot to the front in a blistering :25.3. When the race went by the half, Working Them Angels (Shawn Gray) was out and rolling and hooked up with Mansome in a :27.3 third panel. The two pacers battled side by side around the far turn and all the way down the stretch before Mansome got the advantage and crossed the line first by a half-length in 1:51.3.

It was the fourth win of the year for Mansome ($4.40) who is owned by Bruce Weinstein and Elisha Lafreniere, who also trains the gelding.

MANSOME REPLAY

Bruce Ranger ended the day with a driving hat trick while Elisha Lafreniere scored two training wins.

Jamie Gerard also scored two training wins on Monday.

Live racing resumes at Plainridge Park on Tuesday afternoon (Aug. 9) with post time at 4 p.m. Free full past performance race programs for all live race days can be downloaded by visiting the track’s website by clicking here and clicking the “Racing” tab.

For complete race results, click here.

by Tim Bojarski, for the Standardbred Owners of Massachusetts