Plainville, MA — For the second week in a row, Turn The Page N (Vincent) came from behind to win the $25,000 Open Handicap Harness Race for Fillies and Mares at Plainridge Park on Tuesday afternoon (August 20).
Swedish Starlet N (Matty Athearn) was first in the lead with Turn The Page N (Ron Cushing) in fourth place. Swedish Starlet N reached the halfway point in :56 when Turn The Page N passed first and was alongside the leader at the five-eighths mark.
With the race now becoming a two-horse final sprint, Swedish Starlet N and Turn The Page N ran at breakneck speed from three-quarter distance, around the final turn and all the way down the home straight before Turn The Page N took a half-length lead at the finish line and won in 1:50.4 thanks to a blistering second half of :54.4.
It was the fifth win in eight starts this year for Turn The Page N ($2.60), owned by her rider Cushing, who partners with Kevin Sywyk. Carlos Rodriguez trains the winner.
Turn the page and play again
It was one of two victories for the duo Cushing/Rodriguez.
Previously, Goliath Hanover (Betting line) and driver Brett Beckwith quickly took the lead from the start, setting solid times of :26.4, :55.4 and 1:24.2 before taking the final turn and heading into the home straight where he held off strong challenges from Sweet Jeff IR (Nick Graffam) and Maggie At Bat (Matty Athearn) to win by a length in 1:52.1.
The only 3-year-old in the field against older horses, it was the second consecutive win at Plainridge and the third in his last four starts for Goliath Hanover ($2.40), owned by Triple D Stables and trained by Mark Beckwith.
GOLIATH HANNOVER REPEAT
Bruce Ranger led all riders in wins on Tuesday after scoring a hat trick on the bike.
Live racing will continue on Thursday (August 22) at Plainridge Park with a start time of 4 p.m.
Click here to view the full race results: Results of the US Trotting Competition
from Tim Boyarskifor the Standardbred owners of Massachusetts
