La Bella Vita N visited the winner's circle for the seventh time this year after she won the $25,000 Fillies and Mares Winners-Over pacing feature at Plainridge Park on Friday, Nov. 10.
Racey Rach N (Mitchell Cushing) and Dandys Evrlasting (Matty Athearn) traded leads going to the quarter after Therewasthisgirl (Nick Graffam) made a break and La Bella Vita N (Shawn Gray) settled in third. As Dandys Evrlasting got to the half in :56.2, Gray pulled La Bella Vita N and motored up the outside heading into the backstretch. La Bella Vita N cleared the lead at three-quarters but had challenges coming from Booraa N (Ron Cushing) and Probert (Brett Beckwith), who were in the breeze and fast approaching. As the race entered the stretch, the horses fanned across the track with La Bella Vita N holding a length advantage as they neared the wire and won in 1:52.
La Bella Vita N ($3.60) is owned by Douglas Overhiser and Michael Goldberg Racing. Alicia Gray trains the winner.
Earlier in the $17,500 Winners-Over Group 3, Checkpoint Chatter (Drew Campbell) made a first-over move from fifth past the half and gained a narrow advantage over I Spy (Matty Athearn) at three-quarters. These two mares then matched strides into deep stretch where Checkpoint Chatter took control and won by two lengths in 1:53.1.
It was the third win in the last four starts and ninth win overall this year for Checkpoint Chatter ($3.40), who is owned by Upland Farm and trained by Don Guidette Jr.
Brett Beckwith and Nick Graffam each had two driving wins while Gretchen Athearn and Mike Graffam both had a pair of training wins.
Live harness racing will resume at Plainridge Park on Monday, Nov. 13 with post time at 1 p.m. and there will be a $612 carryover in the Wicked Hi-5 pentafecta wager in race six.
(Standardbred Owners of Massachusetts)