Sub 1:50 marks for Acushla Machree N, Sweet Hayley Jane A

Plainville, MA — It was ladies day at Plainridge Park on Tuesday (Aug.4) as the best resident fillies and mares lined up to compete, and the top two classes both produced sub-1:50 miles and career performances for the respective harness racing winners.

Acushla Machree N (Vincent) took a lot of air on the overland route, but that didn’t stop her from turning in the race of her life as she won the $25,000 Open Handicap pace for fillies and mares.

Acushla Machree N (Mitchell Cushing) got away fourth as Intothemysticmoon (Bruce Ranger) led the girls to the half in :54.3. It was there that Acushla Machree N started to make her move, first-over on the outside, while Swedish Starlet N (Matty Athearn) drafted on her back.

Intothemysticmoon continued to lead, but Acushla Machree N pushed a :26.2 third quarter and was breathing down the leaders neck as they made their way around the turn. When the field straightened for home, Acushla Machree N incrementally ran down Intothemysticmoon, and then held off the fast-closing Swedish Starlet N by three-quarters of a length to win in 1:49.2, which was a new lifetime mark.

ACUSHLA MACHREE N REPLAY

It was the fourth win of the year for Acushla Machree N ($15.60), who is owned by Ray Campbell Jr. and trained by Gretchen Athearn.

Then not to be outdone, Sweet Hayley Jane A (Sweet Lou) scored her ninth win of the year in a career best effort, with a matching 1:49.2 time in the $20,000 upper-level conditioned pace for distaff participants.

Sweet Hayley Jane A (Ron Cushing) got away fourth off the gate while Vel Cinderella (Brett Beckwith) set the pace to the quarter in :26.2. When the race came off turn one, Lil Rockstar (Bruce Ranger) made a speed rush at the leader, and took the front before the :53.4 half. But as soon as Lil Rockstar crossed over, Sweet Hayley Jane A was out with a speed rush of her own, and went stride for stride with Lil Rockstar to three-quarters in 1:20.2, which was a fast :26.3 split. Sweet Hayley Jane A took the lead in that bend and then paced with authority to the line where she won by a length over Chakra (Matty Athearn) in 1:49.2, taking a new lifetime mark.

SWEET HAYLEY JANE A REPLAY

Sweet Hayley Jane A ($7.00) is owned by her driver, Ron Cushing, in partnership with Kevin Sywyk. Heidi Cushing trains the winner.

Brett Beckwith led all drivers on Tuesday with three wins on the bike while Heidi Cushing was the top trainer with a pair of winners hailing from her stable.

Racing will resume at Plainridge Park on Thursday (Aug 6) 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