Plainridge: Mikala delivers again in Clara Barton Distaff Pace
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Mikala backed up her upset victory in last Saturday's Dorothy Haughton Memorial at the Meadowlands by capturing the $100,000 Clara Barton Distaff Pace for older mares on Sunday afternoon at Plainridge Park.
Sent off as the 2-5 favorite today after taking the Haughton Memorial at odds of 41-1, Mikala (George Brennan) left out from post five and was able to clear early leader Max Contract (Andy Miller) for the top spot prior to the 26 3/5 opening quarter. Brennan was then able to hit the brakes in the second quarter to get to the half in just 55 3/5 as Drama Act (David Miller) began a first-over advance out of fourth, followed by Sweet Treasure (Yannick Gingras).
Drama Act put some pressure on Mikala towards the 1:22 three-quarters and through the last turn, but Mikala put her bid away before they turned for home. With nobody threatening from the back in the lane, Max Contract was the only one with a chance to chase down Mikala, but she came up three-quarters of a length short, with Mikala tallying in 1:49 flat. Valar Dohaeris (Mark MacDonald), Drama Act and Sweet Treasure rounded out the order.
"It's just a matter of now getting enough dollars on her card so she's eligible to the big races throughout the rest of the year," remarked Brennan. "I think this one may have clinched it for her, and she was very good today.
"The quarter was slow and the half was even slower. I was able to rate the half. [Drama Act] came at me down the backside, and she felt pretty good and I felt pretty confident through the lane. [Max Contract] was gaining on me at the wire."
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Nik Drennan trains the victorious 5-year-old Always B Miki mare for owners Joseph Davino, Brad Shackman, Anthony Perretti Farm LLC. and Drennan Stable LLC. This was Mikala's 12th win from 36 career starts, she has now earned $441,128, and she paid $2.80 to win.
In undercard pacing events on today's big card at Plainridge, 7-year-old Sunshine Beach stallion Moonshine Kisses continued his sensational season by winning the $75,000 Bert Beckwith Memorial in 1:48 4/5 for driver Jay Randall, trainer Jackie Greene and owner Kellogg Racing Stables LLC., and Skyway Victor, a 5-year-old Tellitlikeitis gelding, captured the $50,000 John Hogan Memorial in 1:50 1/5 for driver Mitchell Cushing, trainer John Eaton and owners Mark Eaton and Robert Griffin.