Baystate events top the ticket

Plainville, MA — With the big Nor’easter safely out to sea, live harness racing resumed at Plainridge Park on Tuesday (Oct. 14) afternoon with two Baystate Trackmaster tilts topping the ticket on a breezy, damp afternoon.

The $25,000 split went to ER Griffin (Nick Graffam) who got away fourth before moving first-over towards the leader, Major Betts (Bruce Ranger), who had skated to the half in :56.2. ER Griffin drew alongside Major Betts at three-quarters and sidled him all the way around the last turn. But when they reached the stretch, ER Griffin swelled up and paced away from everyone to a 3-1/2 length win in 1:51.3.

ER GRIFFIN REPLAY

It was the fifth win of the year for ER Griffin ($12.40) and his connections Mike Eaton, Bob McHugh, Bob Griffin and Russell Young. Mike Eaton was the winning trainer.

Then in the $20,000 division, Sandpiper N (Bruce Ranger) got away fifth as Gandolf The Black (Drew Monti) led through quarters of :26.1, :54.2 and 1:22.3. At that point, Sandpiper N was second-over behind Mach Seelster (Nick Graffam) who stalled in the turn. That’s where Ranger tipped Sandpiper N three-wide and was moving. As the race entered the lane, Gandolf The Black was still in charge, but Sandpiper N flew down the stretch and snapped the leader at the light to win by a head in 1:52.

Sandpiper N ($11.00) is owned and trained by Kathleen Brewer.

Brett Beckwith and Nick Graffam each had two driving wins while trainer Kathleen Brewer had two winners herself.

Live racing will resume at Plainridge Park on Thursday (Oct. 16) at 2 p.m. and there will be a $1,616 carryover in the Wicked Hi-5 pentafecta in the sixth race.

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 entries, click here: US Trotting entries.

by Tim Bojarski, for Plainridge Park