Heavens Pic produces career best effort in feature

Plainville, MA — After more than a few gallant efforts this season, Heavens Pic finally got his first win of the year with a harness racing performance that matched his career best in the $17,000 conditioned trotting feature at Plainridge Park on Thursday (Aug. 20) afternoon. 

Heavens Pic (Mitchell Cushing) landed fourth off the gate while Adios My Lindy (Brett Beckwith) trotted swiftly to the quarter in :26.3 and the half in :55.2. That’s where Heavens Pic was out and rolling, making up ground quickly towards the leader. When the race reached three-quarters in 1:24.1, Heavens Pic was only a half length behind Adios My Lindy. But after racing through the final turn, Adios My Lindy had opened up a two-length gap. But the tables turned quickly when they straightened for home as heavens Pic reeled Adios My Lindy back in and went ahead by three-quarters of a length to win in 1:53.4 and tie his lifetime mark.

HEAVENS PIC REPLAY

Heavens Pic ($3.20) is owned by Jamie Marra Racing and his trainer, Mario Dessureault.

Earlier in the card in the $13,000 maiden conditioned race, the Massachusetts-bred Street Justice (Matty Athearn) made a first-over move from third moving to three-quarters and caught the front-running CD Fletch (Brett Beckwith) in the stretch to win his first lifetime race in 1:54.3.

Street Justice ($6.80) is owned by Michele Nelson and Jeffrey Nelson and trained by James Heap.

STREET JUSTICE REPLAY

Street Justice will be racing in the $3.2 million (est.) Massachusetts Breeder Stakes that start later this year on Monday, September 28.

Driver Brett Beckwith had a natural hat trick in races three through five to take win honors among reinsmen on Thursday while Lisa Watson led all trainers with two tallies of her own.

Racing will resume at Plainridge Park on Monday (Aug 24) at 4 p.m.

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