70th career win for Artful Way

Plainville, MA — The featured $25,000 Winners-Over pace at Plainridge Park on Monday (April 18) was won by the venerable 10-year-old Artful Way who was overlooked at 7-1 and led most of the way to victory. The harness racing win was also the 70th of the gelding’s illustrious career giving him a phenomenal 36% lifetime win percentage.

Skyway Victor (Luke Hanners) took the lead off the gate, but Artful Way (Jay Randall) pulled and gained command at the quarter in :27.2. After Randall gained the lead the rest of the race was history. After going to the half in :55.3 and three-quarters in 1:23.1 without a legitimate challenge, Artful Way took his one length lead in the stretch and maintained it to the wire to win in a season’s best 1:51.4.

With the winner’s share counted, Artful Way ($16.80) enhanced his career bank account to $798,870 for owner Kellogg Racing Stable and trainer Jackie Greene.

ARTFUL WAY REPLAY

In the undercard feature $22,500 pace, Saratoga Raceway shipper Lake Charles (Shawn Gray) was sent off the favorite and didn’t disappoint after he tripped-out to an impressive victory.

Lake Charles pushed Keystroke Dakota (Bruce Ranger) to a quick :26.1 quarter before relenting to the garden spot. Then after following the leader for the next five-eighths of the mile, Gray tipped Lake Charles off the last turn and powered to the front to win by 1-¼ lengths in 1:51.4, which was also his fastest of the season.

It was the third win in seven 2022 starts for Lake Charles ($4.00) and owners Scheigert&Alliesracingllc. Amanda Kelley trains the winner.

LAKE CHARLES REPLAY

Finally in the $17,500 upper-level conditioned pace, Our Max Factor N (Drew Monti) followed live cover second-over before tipping three-wide at three quarters, cleared at the head of the stretch and pulled away by one-half length to win in 1:52.1, his fastest of 2022. Owned by Michael Goldberg, the Jeff Lieberman-trained Our Max Factor N returned $9.80.

Drivers Drew Monti, Jay Randall and Kevin Switzer Jr. all had two wins on Monday.

Racing resumes at Plainridge Park on Tuesday (April 19) at 4 p.m.

For complete race results, click here.

By Tim Bojarski, for the Standardbred Owners of Massachusetts