Plainridge: Long-standing track record broken on Monday's card

The 20-year-old track record for aged pacing geldings at Plainridge Park was finally re-written when My Pal Joe (Shawn Gray) turned in a convincing 1:49 2/5 mile in the featured $20,000 conditioned pace on Monday afternoon (April 29).

My Pal Joe got away fourth as Skyway Victor (Kevin Switzer Jr.) flew to the quarter on the point in 26 3/5. Gray was not content in that spot, though, and pulled quickly while passing the stands and took control of the race before the 54 3/5 half. From there, Skyway Victor tried to keep a up in the pocket while the rest of the field could only watch from farther back as My Pal Joe posted back-to-back 27 2/5 panels before crossing the wire on top by 2 1/2 lengths, setting the new track record and giving the winner a season's-best clocking.

The former record of 1:49 3/5 was set in 2004 by Chewy Gross and matched in 2008 by Psiluvheartbreaker.

It was the third win of the year for My Pal Joe ($6.40), who is owned by United Process Control and trained by Alicia Gray.

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Brett Beckwith, who is second in wins by a driver in North America this year, led the colony at Plainridge on Monday after having a grand slam in the bike, highlighted by Alex Having Fun ($5.60) in the $17,000 secondary pacing feature. Alex Having Fun took a lot of air from sixth in pursuit of the front-stepping Anvil Hands (Jimmy Hardy), who was a strong leader through three-quarters in 1:23 1/5. Alex Having Fun kept grinding in the breeze as they rounded the final turn and headed towards the line and got there first by a neck in 1:51 1/5, which was a new seasonal mark for the gelding that is owned and trained by Kimberly Vafiades.

Beckwith also won with Ace Of Aces (1:51 2/5, $5.80), Sofer (1:53 3/5, $4.40) and Gabe Hanover (1:52 1/5, $2.80) to give him a total of 18 wins in only seven cards of racing at Plainridge so far this year.

--press release (Standardbred Owners of Massachusetts)--