Gingras dominates Million Dollar Monday at Plainridge

Plainville, MA — It was Million Dollar Monday (Oct. 24) at Plainridge Park as eight fields of finalists vied for $125,000 each to determine this year’s Massachusetts Sire Stakes harness racing champions.

Rain and off-going greeted the horses but outstanding performances were still put forth as the uber-competitive Massachusetts breeding program produced winners for eight different trainers representing eight different ownership groups.

The one common denominator to the day was the performance of Yannick Gingras who for the second year in a row dominated the finals, winning four races to register a championship grand slam.

The following is a synopsis of the day’s events and a closer look at the winners.

2-year-old Colt and Gelding Trotting Champion

Inter Mischief (International Moni-Blinded By Lindy)

Owner-Frank Chic and Jamie Lee Sullivan

Trainer-Jamie Sullivan

Driver-Kevin Switzer Jr.

Breeder-K R Breeding

Mutuel-$3.80

Te Amo Lindy (Yannick Gingras) took early control in a speedy :27.4 while Yo Lucky Moni (Jimmy Whittemore) drafted in second. Positions remained unchanged to the half where Kevin Switzer Jr. pulled Inter Mischief from third and powered to the lead by the three-quarters in 1:27.4. From there Inter Mischief was in full command and trotted under wraps to the wire on top by 2-½ lengths in 1:56.3.

2-year-old Filly Trotting Champion

Pembroke Moni (International Moni-Possessed By Lindy)

Owner-William Varney

Trainer-Mark Ford

Driver-Scott Zeron

Breeder-Lindy Farms of Connecticut

Mutuel-$5.20

The Wise One (Bruce Ranger) got off to a fast start from post eight and took the early lead. But Scott Zeron came quickly with Pembroke Moni and took the front by the :29 quarter. Pembroke Moni continued on the front to the half where Milliondollarwall (Yannick Gingras) was charging on the outside. Milliondollarwall grabbed the front and trotted a strong :28.4 third quarter and took her lead to the top of the stretch. There, Pembroke Moni came back out on the attack, took the front and held off a fast closing The Wise One to win by a length in 1:57.3.

2-year-old Filly Pacing Champion

Dame (Dude’s The Man-Seat By The Window)

Owner-Stephen Richard

Trainer-Jolene Andrews

Driver-Jim Hardy

Breeder- Stephen Richard

Mutuel-$2.40

Dame was sent right for the lead by Jimmy Hardy and took it from Seafood Beauty (Jay Randall) as they passed the quarter in a swift :27. From there Dame led by an open length through quarters of :56.4 and 1:25.3 and extended her lead to two at the top of the stretch. Heading to the line, Dame was on cruise despite a valiant late effort from Yes I’m Hungry (Yannick Gingras) and won by 1-½ lengths in 1:54.3.

2-year-old Colt and Gelding Pacing Champion

Rooster Bennett (So Surreal-Teddy Ballgirl)

Owner-Nancy Longobardi and Domenic Longobardi

Trainer-George Ducharme

Driver-Yannick Gingras

Breeder-Nancy Longobardi and Domenic Longobardi

Mutuel-$3.40

Good Will Lindy (Shawn Gray) and Rooster Bennett (Yannick Gingras) argued for the front off the gate with the latter getting the lead by the quarter in :26.4. As a torrential downpour was in progress, Rooster Bennett continued to the half in :56 on top by three lengths as Good Will Lindy started to lose touch. At that point Kevin Switzer Jr. tipped Luke McGook from third and started to close the gap. Luke McGook caught up with Rooster Bennett around the last turn and the pair squared off down the lane. But Rooster Bennett swelled up and pulled away and won by 2-½ lengths in 1:54.3.

3-year-old Filly Trotting Champion

Dancin On The Wall (Walner-Lovely Lindy)

Owner-K R Breeding

Trainer-Domenico Cecere

Driver-Yannick Gingras

Breeder-K R Breeding

Mutuel-$4.20

Yannick Gingras left with Dancin On The Wall from post seven and settled in third as Just Liv Broadway (Luke Hanners) took the field to the quarter in :28. Positions remained unchanged to the half when Gingras went on the offensive with Dancin On The Wall and was moving up the outside towards the leader. The two trotters engaged up the backside with a :28.2 third panel, continued around the last turn and into the stretch where Dancin On The Wall got the advantage and the win by one-half length in 1:56.1.

3-year-old Colt and Gelding Pacing Champion

Striking Impact (Always B Miki-Aunt Caroline)

Owner-Fox Racing, Nickerson Racing and Drew Monti

Trainer-Candace Brandstatter

Driver-Yannick Gingras

Breeder-Lindy Farms of Connecticut

Mutuel-$5.80

It was a three horse charge for the lead that eventually saw Striking Impact (Yannick Gingras) take command in :26.2. But control was soon turned over to Treacherous Tom (Bruce Ranger) in front of the stands who kept the pace brisk with a :55.2 half. Motoring up the backside, Treacherous Tom took a three length lead on Striking Impact, who himself broke away from the field by four lengths. As they entered the stretch, Treacherous Tom was still in control but Gingras tipped Striking Impact and drove him hard all the way to the wire where he caught the favorite and won by one-half length in 1:53.1 to become a two-time Massachusetts Sire Stake champion.

3-year-old Colt and Gelding Trotting Champion

Bill Bauer (E L Titan-Miss Flaggy Meadow)

Owner-Paul Kelly, Joseph Palillo and Ellen Palillo

Trainer-Paul Kelley

Driver-Yannick Gingras

Breeder-East Pond Stable

Mutuel-$2.60

Moni’s Heaven Cent (Jay Randall), Strongerwithlindy (Steve Smith) and Bill Bauer (Yannick Gingras) got away one-two-three in the field of seven and remained that way to the half in :58.1. Gingras tipped Bill Bauer from third heading into the backstretch and drew alongside Moni’s Heaven Cent and the match race was on. The pair went stride for stride around the last turn and into the stretch and despite Moni’s Heaven Cent’s best effort, Bill Bauer muscled to the lead by three-quarters of a length to take the victory in a lifetime best 1:56 to become the second two-time Massachusetts Sire Stake Champion of the afternoon.

3-year-old Filly Pacing Champion

Dudes Sweet Bet (Dude’s The Man-Sweet Bettor)

Owner-Salvatore Vullo, Chris Lems and James De Armond

Trainer-Jessica Okusko

Driver-John Macdonald

Breeder-Triple C Stables and Chris Lems

Mutuel-$4.00

John Macdonald left with Dudes Sweet Bet and took the lead from the pylon-starting Wolverina (Nick Graffam). But Graffam was out and rolling almost immediately before the :27.1 quarter and had to work hard to gain control in front of the stands. Positions settled for the half until Shakeitoffscarlet (Kevin Switzer Jr.) came roaring first-over and pushed Wolverina to a :27.4 third quarter. That challenge lasted until the top of the stretch when Shakeitoffscarlet faded and Dudes Sweet Bet popped the deuce and ran down Wolverina at the wire to win by two lengths in 1:54.3.

Racing resumes at Plainridge Park on Thursday (Oct. 27) at 2 p.m. and when it does there will be a large carryover of $14,319 in the sixth race Jackpot Wicked Hi-5 pentafecta. Free full past performance race programs for all live race days can be downloaded by visiting the track’s website at plainridgeparkcasino.com and clicking the “Racing” tab.

For complete race results, click here.

by Tim Bojarski, for the Standardbred Owners of Massachusetts