Experts share picks for Spirit of Massachusetts Day card

Plainville, MA –– Plainridge Park has put together a panel of Hall of Fame and award-winning harness racing writers and handicappers in order to get their expert selections for the Spirit of Massachusetts Trot, Clara Barton Pace and Bert Beckwith Memorial Pace that will be held on Monday (July 25) at Plainridge starting at 4 p.m.

Gordon Waterstone – Hall of Fame – USTA Editorial Specialist

BERT BECKWITH MEMORIAL

ALWAYS A MIKI – He won more than $330,000 as a 2-year-old with Dexter Dunn driving, including the Governor’s Cup at The Meadowlands, so being reunited with the two-time Driver of the Year should feel so good.

Pocket Of Terror A

Patrikthepiranha A

CLARA BARTON PACE

LYONS SENTINEL – Two-time Dan Patch divisional champ gets some much-needed post position relief and looks to be in prime position to get a great trip.

Blue Diamond Eyes

Racine Bell

SPIRIT OF MASSACHUSETTS TROT

LOVEDBYTHEMASSES – Only second start in nearly two months but should be fresh and ready and likely to moving forward fast out of the gate. 

Incommunicado

Alrajah One IT

Ken Weingartner – Hall of Fame – USTA Media Relations Manager

BERT BECKWITH MEMORIAL

ALWAYS A MIKI – Was a stakes-winner with Dexter Dunn in the past, starts inside top rivals here.

Patrikthepiranha A

Pocket Of Terror A

CLARA BARTON PACE

LYONS SENTINEL – Won last year’s Barton after entering 2-for-8 off a fourth-place finish in the Haughton; déjà vu all over again?

Racine Bell

Amazing Dream N

SPIRIT OF MASSACHUSETTS TROT

FORBIDDEN TRADE – Lacked room in the stretch last time out and the draw shakes up this race, so taking a shot.

Alrajah One IT

Lovedbythemasses

 Bob “Hollywood” Heyden – Hall Of Fame – Harness Racing Historian

BERT BECKWITH MEMORIAL

PATRIKTHEPIRANHA A – Has been favored in six of his last seven starts and figures to be some value with the outside draw. 

Always A Miki

Vel Mr Nice Guy

CLARA BARTON PACE  

LYONS SENTINEL – Draws the pole and shakes loose from Test Of Faith. Great rebounding potential here. 

Blue Diamond Eyes

Racine Bell

SPIRIT OF MASSACHUSETTS TROT

FORBIDDEN TRADE – Is more versatile than most of this field and will need it. ANY on the board finish and he’s the newest double Millionaire.

Alrajah One IT

Its Academic

Ken Warkentin – Meadowlands Racing Track Announcer

BERT BECKWITH MEMORIAL

ROCK DIAMONDS N – 9-year-old warhorse seems to be trending in the right direction, just missed to Pocket Of Terror A last Monday, figures to get a speedy target & lively race flow.

Pocket Of Terror A

Sports Obsession

CLARA BARTON PACE

AMERICAN DREAM N – Much-heralded down-under import was a fast-finishing runner up to Test Of Faith in a world record 1:47 Dorothy Haughton, can stalk the ample speed on view for 2021 Rising Star Todd McCarthy.

Racine Bell

Lyons Sentinel

SPIRIT OF MASSACHUSETTS TROT

FORBIDDEN TRADE – Came into the Crawford Farms off three in a row @ Mohawk, had traffic issues & never fully shook loose, clear sailing puts this 2019 Hambo Hero over $2 million

Alrajah One IT.

Lovedbythemasses

Derick Giwner – DRF Harness Editor

BERT BECKWITH MEMORIAL

POCKET OF TERROR A – Is clearly sharp and should get a good pace to rally into.

Always A Miki

Vel Mr Nice Guy

CLARA BARTON PACE

RACINE BELL – Gets away from Test Of Faith this week.

Blue Diamond Eyes

Gia’s Surreal

SPIRIT OF MASSACHUSETTS TROT

ALRAJAH ONE IT – Finds a field loaded with early speed to set him up.

Lovedbythemasses

Eurobond

Dave Brower – Meadowlands Track Handicapper and Broadcast Personality

BERT BECKWITH MEMORIAL

PATRIKTHEPIRANHA A – Looks like the play, in an absolutely outstanding renewal of the Beckwith Memorial. Even from post eight, any decent trip and he will be hard to deny.

Vel Mr Nice Guy

Always A Miki

CLARA BARTON PACE

RACINE BELL – Has been racing her eyeballs out lately, chasing the likes of Test Of Faith, etc. Her blast-out speed should get her to the front in the Clara Barton, where she likes to hear her hooves rattle. Jason Bartlett all the way.

Blue Diamond Eyes

Lyons Sentinel

SPIRIT OF MASSACHUSETTS TROT

LOVEDBYTHEMASSES – Will most likely be using the early speed tonight in the Spirit of Massachusetts, even from that outside post. He’s been sharp all year and must get the jump on Alrajah One. Timmy T is smart.

Forbidden Trade

Alrajah One

Brett Sturman – Harness Racing Update Columnist

BERT BECKWITH MEMORIAL

POCKET OF TERROR A – Went first-over last week into blistering fractions and lived to tell about it; wins if that good again.

Sports Obsession

Patrikthepiranha A

CLARA BARTON PACE
RACINE BELL – Used hard early in that 1:47 mile won by Test Of Faith last weekend, looks to blaze the way despite the outside post.
Blue Diamond Eyes
Amazing Dream N

 SPIRIT OF MASSACHUSETTS TROT

ALRAJAH ONE IT – The latest Svanstedt import who already has the look of a killer from just his lone start in North America.
Lovedbythemasses
Forbidden Trade

Garnet Barnsdale – DRF Harness and Ontario Racing Handicapper

BERT BECKWITH MEMORIAL

ALWAYS A MIKI – Is improving and he picks up the best driver in the world for this; top call.

Patrikthepiranha A

Sports Obsession

CLARA BARTON PACE

LYONS SENTINEL – Has drawn perfectly to stalk the speed drawn outside and she should roll past late.

Racine Bell

Blue Diamond Eyes

SPIRIT OF MASSACHUSETTS TROT

ALARAJAH ONE IT – Produced a devastating late kick in his North American debut. He is the one to beat.

Forbidden Trade

Lovedbythemasses 

 Lenny Calderone – Plainridge Park Track Announcer

BERT BECKWITH MEMORIAL

PATRIKTHEPIRANHA A – Has been rock solid all season long; in top hands and gets the edge despite outside draw.

Always A Miki

Pocket Of Terror A

CLARA BARTON PACE

RACINE BELL – Has keen early speed and will most likely be flying from the start; classy miss can prove best in highly competitive Barton.

Lyons Sentinel

Blue Diamond Eyes

SPIRIT OF MASSACHUSETTS TROT

ALRAJAH ONE IT – Trotted home in 25.3 to score upset in first start of year at Meadowlands on 7/2; six-year-old appears to be a force to be dealt with off his season’s debut and gets a very slight nod over well-balanced Spirit match-up.

Lovedbythemasses

Incommunicado

Tim Bojarski – Plainridge Park Racing Media Relations

BERT BECKWITH MEMORIAL

POCKET OF TERROR A – Has been stout in his two Plainridge outings and should have a stiff pace to stalk here.

Always A Miki

Sports Obsession

CLARA BARTON PACE

LYONS SENTINEL – Defending champ had draw line up perfect. Look for a repeat of last year.

Blue Diamond Eyes

Racine Bell

SPIRIT OF MASSACHUSETTS TROT

ALRAJAH ONE IT – You can’t overlook his North American debut and any performance close to that this day makes him the one to beat.

Lovedbythemasses

Eurobond

by Tim Bojarski, for Plainridge Park