Moonshine Kisses by a nose in Open

Plainville, MA — Making every stride in the mile count, track record holder Moonshine Kisses (Sunshine Beach) nosed out Patrickthepiranha A after an epic stretch battle in the $20,000 Open Handicap harness racing pace at Plainridge Park on Tuesday afternoon (Sept. 20).

Moonshine Kisses (Jay Randall) grabbed the lead at the quarter in :26.3 and then took the field the half in :55.2. At that point Patrickthepiranha A (Bruce Ranger) was already rolling up first over and by three-quarters was within a length of the leader.

By the top of the stretch Patrickthepiranha A and Moonshine Kisses were side by side and paced in tandem all the way to the wire as Ranger and Randall urged them on. When they got to the line, they were a nose apart with Moonshine Kisses finishing what he started with a 1:51 win.

It was the fifth win of the year for Moonshine Kisses ($7.80) and owner Kellogg Racing Stables. Jackie Greene trains the winner.

MOONSHINE KISSES REPLAY

Family ties ran deep at Plainridge Park on Tuesday as trainer Melissa Beckwith had a dominant afternoon, starting four horses on the card and watching three make it to the winner’s circle while her son Brett Beckwith also won three races in the bike.

In the co-featured $15,000 upper-level conditioned pace, trainer Melissa Beckwith scored with Jimmy Connor B (Big Jim), driven by Nick Graffam, who followed the outside cover of Ucanttouchthis (Brett Beckwith) past the half in pursuit of the front-running Salt Life (Bruce Ranger) and stayed in that position until the top of the stretch. It was there Graffam tipped three-wide around the leaders and paced away to a 3-¼ length victory in a new seasonal best time of 1:50.4.

Jimmy Connor B ($3.40) is owned by Triple D Stables, M G Stable, Toby Rekoon and Frank Canzone.

JIMMY CONNOR B REPLAY

Beckwith also won with Little Willy ($6.40) who took a new lifetime mark of 1:53 and Vel Mr. Nice Guy (1.51.4, $4.40) and both were driven by her son, Brett Beckwith.

Brett Beckwith completed his day with a driving triple as he added Throwing Copper (1:53.1, $54.00) to the win column to complete the hat trick.

The $2.5 million (est.) Massachusetts Sire Stakes begin at Plainridge Park on Sunday (Sept. 25) with all divisions of 3-year-olds competing in their first legs. The 2-year-olds take the track on Monday (Sept. 26) for their seasonal bow. Post time for both days is at 2 p.m.

Until then, live racing resumes at Plainridge Park on Thursday afternoon (Sept. 22) with post time at 2 p.m. Free full past performance race programs for all live race days can be downloaded by visiting the track’s website and clicking the “Racing” tab.

For complete race results, click here.

by Tim Bojarski, for the Standardbred Owners of Massachusetts