La Bella Vita N tops Plainridge feature

Plainville, MA — La Bella Vita N (Changeover) visited the winner’s circle for the seventh time this year after she won the $25,000 fillies and mares Winners-Over harness racing pacing feature at Plainridge Park on Friday afternoon (Nov. 10).

Racey Rach N (Mitchell Cushing) and Dandys Evrlasting (Matty Athearn) traded leads going to the quarter after Therewasthisgirl (Nick Graffam) made a break and La Bella Vita N (Shawn Gray) seated in third. As Dandys Evrlasting got to the half in :56.2, Gray pulled La Bella Vita N and motored up the outside heading into the backstretch. La Bella Vita N cleared the lead at three-quarters but had challenges coming from Booraa N (Ron Cushing) and Probert (Brett Beckwith), who were in the breeze and fast approaching. As the race entered the stretch, the horses fanned across the track with La Bella Vita N holding a length advantage as they neared the wire and won in 1:52.

LA BELLA VITA N REPLAY

La Bella Vita N ($3.60) is owned by Douglas Overhiser and Michael Goldberg Racing. Alicia Gray trains the winner.

Earlier in the $17,500 Winners-Over Group 3, Checkpoint Chatter (Always A Virgin, Drew Campbell) made a first-over move from fifth past the half and gained a narrow advantage over I Spy (Matty Athearn) at three-quarters. These two mares then matched strides into deep stretch where Checkpoint Chatter took control and won by two lengths in 1:53.1.

It was the third win in the last four starts and ninth win overall this year for Checkpoint Chatter ($3.40) who is owned by Upland Farm and trained by Don Guidette Jr.

CHECKPOINT CHATTER REPLAY

Brett Beckwith and Nick Graffam each had two driving wins while Gretchen Athearn and Mike Graffam both had a pair of training wins.

Live racing will resume at Plainridge Park on Monday (Nov. 13) with post time at 1 p.m. and there will be a $612 carryover in the Wicked Hi-5 pentafecta wager in race six.

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

by Tim Bojarski, for the Standardbred Owners of Massachusetts