After a win and a second in the top pacing class at Saratoga Raceway, Artful Way tried that same level at Plainridge last week and fell short in a gallant closing brush. This week he would not be denied after putting in a gutsy effort to win the $15,000 Winners-Over featured pace at Plainridge Park on Monday afternoon.
Artful Way (Jay Randall) got away third in the short but select field of five as Some Waratah A (Greg Merton) was the commander of fractions. The race proceeded in single file past the first two stations in :27.2 and :57.1 before Rock Diamonds N (Ron Cushing) pulled from last and flushed Artful Way for cover.
Plainridge Park’s trainer of the year in 2020 wasted no time flexing her muscle on the opening day of the track’s 2021 meet.
Melissa Beckwith sent newly acquired Keystone Dakota to post in the $15,000 conditioned pacing feature for five-year-olds and under and the son of Art Major-Keystone Dawn responded with a win and a new lifetime mark in his first start at Plainridge.
Despite drawing post eight in the full field of starters, driver Bruce Ranger sent Keystone Dakota right to the front and never looked back after clearing. With Wyatt J (Ron Cushing) sitting on his back, Keystone Dakota snapped off quarters of :26.4, :55.1 and 1:23.2 before rounding the last bend to head down the lane. It was there Cushing pulled the right line on Wyatt J and got the big horse in gear, trying to chase down the leader. Although Wyatt J was able to make up some of the deficit in deep stretch, Keystone Dakota was just too much on this day and cruised home in :28.3 and stopped the timer in 1:52, w