Hot Beckwith guides Kiwi import to Open win

Plainville, MA — Brett Beckwith was a tough out at Plainridge Park on Thursday afternoon (Nov. 9) as he won five of the eight races on the program, including a natural hat trick in races six, seven and eight on a day that featured a lot of rain and a very sloppy track.

Beckwith’s marquee victory came behind the recently landed Cranbourne N (Lincoln Royal), who scored his second straight North American win in a career best clocking in the $25,000 Winners-Over co-featured pace.

Cranbourne N flew to the front and had a two length advantage at the :26.3 quarter. He then backed down the half before skating away to three-quarters in 1:24. At that station, Torrid Saint A (Matty Athearn) got in gear from sixth and moved three wide in the last turn, but was still three lengths from the leader. Beckwith was urging Cranbourne N to the line, but Torrid Saint A was pacing up a storm in deep stretch. Torrid Saint A got close, but Cranbourne N got the win by three-quarters of a length in 1:52, which was a new lifetime mark.

Cranbourne N ($7.40) is owned by the Jesmeral Stable and trained by Matty Medeiros.

Beckwith also won the other co-featured $25,000 District 9 pace with Sixfingerfreddie (Bettor’s Delight), who came first-over at three-quarters in pursuit of the leading Sofer (Matty Athearn). Sixfingerfreddie eventually took the lead in the last turn and the win at the light in 1:55.

Sixfingerfreddie ($5.20) is owned by Theresa Coulston and Randy Bickmore, who also trains the winner.

Beckwith’s other three wins included Tack Room Chatter (Huntsville, 1:53.2, $9.20), General Ward (Somebeachsomewhere, 1:53, $6.80) and Greatest Ending (Somebeachsomewhere, 1:52.3, $4.00). He also had one second and posted a stellar .694 UDR for the afternoon. Beckwith is currently the third leading dash driver at Plainridge Park (115), second leading at Saratoga Raceway (183) and sits tenth among all drivers in North America for wins (372).

Live racing will resume at Plainridge Park on Friday (Nov. 10) with post time at 1 p.m.

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

by Tim Bojarski, for the Standardbred Owners of Massachusetts