Manchego put on a display of devastating speed in a gate-to-wire victory in the $250,000 Spirit of Massachusetts Trot at Plainridge Park on Sunday (July 26) and set a new world record of 1:49.3 for older trotting mares over a five-eighths-mile track.
Manchego broke her own world record of 1:50.1 set at Hollywood Dayton Raceway in 2019. The time also smashed the all-age track trotting record at Plainridge Park, besting the 1:51.2 set by JL Cruze in the 2017 Spirit Trot.
Dexter Dunn had Manchego revved up off the gate, and they shot right for the lead with Atlanta (Yannick Gingras) dropping in the pocket from post seven through a blistering :25.2 first quarter. The field remained single file as Manchego marched to the half in :53.3 and three-quarters in 1:21 with Atalanta in deliberate pursuit.
As the pair trotted away from the field around the last turn, Gingras pulled Atlanta off the pylons to take her best shot at the leader. But as soon as she pulled, Manchego accelerated, opened up two lengths and proceeded to the finish under no urging at all to win wrapped up by 2-1/2 lengths.
Atlanta held on for second and Run Director (David Miller) closed rapidly to finish third.
It was the 31st career win for Manchego ($3.00), and it pushed her lifetime earnings to over $2,342,705. The five-year-old daughter of Muscle Hill and Secret Magic is owned by Black Horse Racing and trained by Nancy Takter.
One race earlier, in the $100,000 Clara Barton Distaff Pace, Shartin N made herself right at home again at Plainridge as she broke the all-age track record that she set just last year.
Shartin N broke her own all-age track record at Plainridge Park with a 1:48.1 score in the Clara Barton Distaff Pace.
Tim Tetrick put Shartin N on the point immediately as Kissin In The Sand (Yannick Gingras) left from post four and followed closely with a two-hole trip. After a quick :26.2 quarter and with no pressure at all, Tetrick backed down the second panel to :28.1 and the race seemed well in control for him at that point.
By the five-eighths, Gingras pulled Kissin In The Sand and tried to draw alongside Shartin N, but never got closer than a length around the far turn. Tetrick eased the lines a bit and gave Shartin N her head turning for home, and the mare swelled up down the lane, opening up 2-1/4 lengths and winning in 1:48.1.
Stablemate Soho Burning Love A (Jordan Stratton) rallied late to finish second, and 38-1 shot Philly Hanover (Dunn) completed the board.
The time was a new all-age track record at Plainridge Park, which was set last year in this same stake by Shartin N when she cruised home in 1:49.1. It was only one-fifth of a second off the 1:48 world record for older pacing mares over a five-eighths mile-track that she shares with Somwherovrarainbow.
This was the 44th career victory for Shartin N ($2.60), who campaigns for trainer Jim King Jr. and the partnership of Richard Poillucci, Jo Ann Looney-King and Tim Tetrick. The seven-year-old daughter of Tintin In America and Bagdarin has now earned $2,244,946.
(Standardbred Owners of Massachusetts)