Beckwith bags both features in brilliant driving treble

Plainville, MA — Brett Beckwith, who is currently North America’s fifth leading dash driver, was hard at work at Plainridge Park on Tuesday (Oct. 27) winning both harness racing features while also posting an overall hat trick in the bike. 

Beckwith won the $20,000 Minutemen and Women for Massachusetts-bred horses with Uff Da, who earned a hard fought victory.

Uff Da left from post eight and was parked three-deep for over a quarter mile before he finally crossed over passing the finish line the first time. Uff Da then reached the half in :56.1 with Beantown Miki (Mitchell Cushing) sitting on his back. As they made their way to three-quarters, Street Justice (Kyle Swift) pulled first-over and applied pressure to the leader well into the last turn. But Street Justice eventually faded, leaving Beantown Miki a clear path towards Uff Da. Coming off the turn, Beantown Miki tipped and advanced on Uff Da, along with Mia’s Boy (Matty Athearn), who was in full flight heading for home. That two-pronged attack kept gaining ground, but Uff Da reached the line before they could reach him and Uff Da won by three-quarters of a length in 1:54.3.

UFF DA REPLAY

It was the second straight win and third in his last four outings for Uff Da ($3.00), who is owned by John Lems and Chirs Lems and trained by Melissa Beckwith.

Brett Beckwith then scored a night-cap winner with Th Kay C Crunch, who took a new lifetime mark in victory.

Th Kay C Crunch got away fifth, as Sweet Street Lou (Matty Athearn) muscled his way to the front in :26.1. But immediately, Montana GB (Nick Graffam) pulled and charged to the front before passing the half in :54 flat. Then just before three-quarters, Sweet Street Lou came out to challenge Montana GB while Th Kay C Crunch was third-over in that outer flow, but that wasn’t for long. Beckwith tipped Th Kay C Crunch three-wide at the top of turn three and powered into contention by the top of the stretch. When they straightened for home, Th Kay C Crunch reeled in Montana GB and cruised home under a line drive to win by 1-¼ lengths in a career best, 1:50.3, home in :27.4.

TH KC CRUNCH REPLAY

It was the seventh win of the year for Th Kay C Crunch ($5.40), who is owned by Joe Trice and trained by Jimmy Nickerson.

Beckwith’s third win was with Captain Tell (1:52.3, $3.00).

Gerald MacKenie Jr. led all trainers on Tuesday with a pair of winners.

Racing will resume at Plainridge Park on Thursday (Oct. 29) at 2 p.m. and there will be a $20,204 carryover in the Wicked Hi-5 pentafecta wager in the sixth race.

Also featured on the card will be the $1.32 million Massachusetts Breeder Stakes finals with the finest 2 and 3-year-old trotters and pacers of both genders bred in Massachusetts going to post in eight races valued at $165,000 each.

Also, horsemen and horsewomen and fans alike should take note that starting next week on Monday (Nov. 2), post time will be moved to 1 p.m. for the remainder of the meet, which concludes on Tuesday (Nov. 24).

Free full card past performance programs for every live card of racing at Plainridge Park can always be downloaded at their website (plainridgeparkcasino.com) under the “Racing” tab. You can also watch all the race replays on that same page.

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

by Tim Bojarski, for the Standardbred Owners of Massachusetts