Fourth track record this season set at Plainridge

Plainville, MA — The fourth track record of the harness racing season was broken at Plainridge Park on Monday afternoon (Sept. 20) after Therewasthisgirl dominated a field of 6-year-old and younger fillies and mares in a $17,500 conditioned event.

Driver Nick Graffam put Therewasthisgirl on the point and posted fractions of :27.4, :55.2 and 1:23 on top by two lengths at that point, before turning for home and opening up a five length advantage while completely wrapped-up at the line in 1:51.

The time was a new lifetime mark and also set a new track record for 3-year-old pacing fillies.

It was the fourth win in a row for Therewasthisgirl ($2.60) who in her last start won the $50,000 final of the New York Sire Stakes Excel A series. The daughter of So Surreal-The Company Store is trained by George Ducharme who co-owns with Heather Marshall.

THEREWASTHISGIRL REPLAY

Firstup set her own pace and captured her second straight $22,500 Winners-Over pace for fillies and mares at Plainridge Park on Monday afternoon (Sept. 20).

Firstup (Shawn Gray) got aired-out to the quarter in a lively :27.3 by Sarah’s Lily (Jay Randall) but took control of the race in front of the stands. After getting to the half in :56.2, Surreal Syrah (Matty Athearn) came calling on the outside and hooked up with the leader midway up the backstretch.

As they moved through the last turn, Firstup regained her length lead and started to show some leg. Then as the race headed for home, Sarah’s Lily — who had sat the pocket trip since the three-eighths pole — tried to make a rush up the pegs. However Firstup would have nothing to do with that and held her ground in a one length victory timed in a season’s best tying 1:52.1.

Firstup ($3.40), a seven-year-old mare by Rockin Image, captured her seventh win of the year for owner Jesmeral Stable, who has financially benefited from her performances in the amount of $68,979 this year.

FIRSTUP REPLAY

Drivers Shawn Gray and Jay Randall each won two races on Monday while trainer Nancy Longobardi led all conditioners with two wins as well.

Racing resumes at Plainridge Park on Thursday (Sept. 23) with post time at 2 p.m.

For full race results, click here.

By Tim Bojarski, for the Standardbred Owners of Massachusetts