Beckwith continues winning ways with five-bagger

Plainville, MA — Brett Beckwith was at it again at Plainridge Park on Monday (May 27) by grabbing a fist-full of harness racing victories to extend his already lofty lead as the winningest driver of the meet. One of those five wins included the $20,000 Open II Handicap with Fourever Boy.

Beckwith took the lead with Fourever Boy as they passed Heinikin Bythebay (Kevin Switzer Jr.) moving by the quarter in :26.4. Once in control, Fourever Boy marched off fractions of :55.3 and 1:22.4 while Skyway Victor (Bruce Ranger) pressed on the outside and Heinikin Bythebay continued to track from the pocket.

Fourever Boy maintained his dominance around the far turn as Skyway Victor began to fade. But when they straightened for home, Heinikin Bythebay found room at the pegs and came at the leader with a flurry. Heiniken Bythebay quickly paced alongside Fourever Boy and the two matched strides in deep stretch. But Fourever Boy held off the challenge and won by a nose in a photo in 1:50.1, which was a new seasonal mark.

Now boasting $965,142 in career earnings in only 69 lifetime starts, Fourever Boy ($3.60) claimed his second win of the year for owners Micki Rae Stables and Tim Twaddle. Mark Beckwith trains the winner.

FOUREVER BOY REPLAY

Brett Beckwith also won with Just A Little Bit A (1:51.3, $4.00), Odds On Lauderdale (1:52.1, $11.40), Rodman (1:53.2, $3.40) and Beach Watch (1:54.1, $4.60).

In the $17,000 upper-level conditioned pace, Lifes A Puzzle (Lazarus N, Kevin Switzer Jr.) followed Gandolf The Black (Drew Campbell) as they chased the front-running Always A Miki (Matty Athearn) to the half in :55.4. Gandolf The Black took the lead at three-quarters while Lifes A Puzzle continued to grind in the breeze as they made their way through the last turn. When they straightened for home, Lifes A Puzzle made up a length deficit before forging ahead of Gandolf The Black to win by 1-½ lengths in 1:50.2 to take a new lifetime mark.

Lifes A Puzzle ($8.80) is owned by Richard Humphrey and trained by Alison Hynes.

LIFES A PUZZLE REPLAY

Julia Eaton was the leading trainer on Monday after winning two races on the card.

Racing resumes at Plainridge Park on Tuesday (May 28) with post time at 4 p.m.

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

by Tim Bojarski, for the Standardbred Owners of Massachusetts