Fourever Boy scorches late in sub 1:50 thriller

Plainville, MA — A lightning fast racing surface and a 92-degree temperature at first race post set the stage for some exceedingly fast harness racing miles at Plainridge Park on Thursday (June 5) afternoon. And going the fastest was the millionaire Fourever Boy (Sweet Lou), who posted the first sub-1:50 mile of the year after winning the featured $25,000 Open Handicap pace.

Brett Beckwith got away fifth with Fourever Boy as Life’s A Puzzle (Nick Graffam) took no prisoners in :25.4 and :54.1. At that point Beckwith had Fourever Boy first-over in the breeze fifth, but hanging as the third panel blistered in :26.3 with Life’s A Puzzle still calling the shots at the 1:20.4 three-quarters.

Heading into the last turn, the pocket-sitting Heinikin Bythebay (Kevin Switzer Jr.) pulled and bolted alongside Life’s A Puzzle, leaving Pirate Hanover (Aaron Byron) behind the leader while Rocknroll Runa A (Bruce Ranger) moved into contention and Fourever Boy found clear road three-wide around the bunching group.

In the lane there was a wall of horses four across with Fourever Boy widest of all and pacing up a storm. Fourever Boy cleared in deep stretch and won by three-quarters of a length in 1:49.3 which was a new seasonal mark.

The time was also Fourever Boy’s fastest win clocking since July of 2023 when he went his lifetime best 1:48.2 mile at Scioto Downs.

FOUREVER BOY REPLAY

Fourever Boy ($5.60) is owned by Micki Rae Stables and trained by Melissa Beckwith.

In the secondary featured $19,000 upper-level conditioned pace, Vintage Cheddar N (Mitchell Cushing) scored his second straight win after moving first-over from fifth after a :54 half set by Renaissance Deo (Bruce Ranger) and made his way into contention in the final turn and chasing the now leading Grey Horizon (Drew Monti). After going three-wide around that entire bend, Vintage Cheddar N caught Grey Horizon and then out-paced the very fast closing Southwind Sandor (Brett Beckwith) to win in 1:50.2, which was also a seasonal mark.

Vintage Cheddar N ($4.80) is owned by his trainer, Amanda Kelley, in partnership with VIP Internet Stable.

Drivers Matty Athearn, Mitchell Cushing and Shawn Gray, along with trainer Amanda Kelley, all scored two wins apiece during the afternoon.

Live racing will resume at Plainridge Park on Friday (June 6) at 4 p.m.

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 results, click here: US Trotting results.

by Tim Bojarski, for the Standardbred Owners of Massachusetts