Smooth sailing for Racey Rach N at Plainridge

Plainville, MA — Racey Rach N (A Rocknroll Dance) and driver Mitchell Cushing took full advantage of a perfect trip to cash in the win in the $25,000 Winners-Over harness racing pace for fillies and mares at Plainridge Park on Thursday afternoon (Oct. 19).

Wahs Fire Bug N (Kevin Switzer Jr.) took the lead at the eighth pole while Racey Rach N settled into the garden spot for the duration of the mile. Wahs Fire Bug N proceeded to set fractions of :26.3, :55.2 and 1:23 with no pressure from behind. That was until half-way through the last turn when Cushing tipped Racey Rach N off the pegs and took dead aim at the leader.

Wahs Fire Bug N held her ground for a bit as they paced for the wire, but Racey Rach N was a little faster to the line and won by three-quarters of a length in 1:52.

The fifth win of the year for Racey Rach N ($9.80) pushed her 2023 earnings to $107,270 for the benefit of her owners Burke Racing Stable, Weaver Bruscemi and Scott Dillon. Joe Nelson trains the winner.

RACEY RACH N REPLAY

In the secondary featured $22,500 upper-level conditioned pace, Nineteenth Man A (Captaintreacherous) and driver Ron Cushing got away sixth as Uncattouchthis (Brett Beckwith) hit the half in :54.2. But he was soon out third-over in an outer flow led by Alex Having fun (Bruce Ranger) who was bearing down on the leader.

Alex Having Fun cleared in the last turn and Nineteenth Man A went three-wide around the stalled Bag Pipe Major (Nick Graffam) and was revved up heading into the lane. Despite having two lengths to make up in the stretch, Nineteenth Man A got home under a line drive to win by 1-¼ lengths in 1:51.2.

Nineteenth Man A ($4.80) is owned by his driver Cushing along with Kevin Sywyk and Lance Downs. Heidi Cushing trains the winner.

NINETEENTH MAN A REPLAY

There was a huge win mutuel paid out in the final race of the day after Checkpoint Chatter (Drew Campbell) tipped three-wide from ninth at three-quarters and swooped the entire field in the final quarter to win by 1-¼ lengths in 1:54.3 at 55-1. It was the seventh win of the year for the Don Guidette Jr. trained and Upland Farm owned Checkpoint Chatter who paid $112.40 for a $2 wager.

Kevin Switzer Jr. and Mike Stevenson each had two driving wins on Thursday while Alison Hynes topped all trainers with a double as well.

Live racing will resume at Plainridge Park on Friday (Oct. 20) at 2 p.m. and there will be a $48,045 carryover in the Wicked Hi-5 pentafecta wager in race six.

The $1.2 million finals of the Massachusetts Sire Stakes will be held on Tuesday (Oct. 24) when eight divisions worth $150,000 each will go postward. Horsemen are reminded there will be a detention barn for the finals and all horses must be checked into the stable area at Plainridge Park no later than 8 p.m. on Monday (Oct. 23).

Log on to the Standardbred Owners of Massachusetts website at sominc.net or visit their Facebook page for information and updated points and earnings leading right up to the finals.

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

by Tim Bojarski, for the Standardbred Owners of Massachusetts