Manchego supplements to $250,000 Spirit Trot

Plainville, MA — The draw for the $250,000 Spirit of Massachusetts Trot that will be held at Plainridge Park on Sunday (July 25), took place on Tuesday and two names that were not on the original list of harness racing eligibles will be starting in the fourth edition of the race.

Although she was not originally nominated to this year’s stake, Manchego, who won the 2020 Spirit of Massachusetts and set a world record of 1:49.3 for aged trotting mares over a five-eighth’s mile track in the process, will be able to defend her title after being supplemented to the race for $20,000.

Another addition to the field was Eurobond, who was offered the “at-large” entry as a horse that has competed extensively at Plainridge Park over the past two years. That selection was made jointly by the Harness Horseman’s Association of Massachusetts, the Hambletonian Society and Plainridge Park.

Here is the draw for select field of six:

$250,000 Spirit of Massachusetts Trot

1 Forbidden Trade Daniel Dube Luc Blais
2 Crystal Fashion Tim Tetrick Jim Campbell
3 Mississippi Storm Tim Tetrick Tom Fanning
4 Lindy The Great Andy Miller Julie Miller
5 Manchego Dexter Dunn Nancy Takter
6 Eurobond Bruce Range Christen Pantaleano

Harness racing’s newest world record holder, JK First Lady, who set the mark of 1:47.4 for 4-year-old pacing mares at the Meadowlands last Saturday (July 17), will lead a stellar group of nine aged pacing mares in $100,000 Clara Barton Distaff Pace.

The field includes the former holder of that record Lyon’s Sentinel, two-time Breeders Crown champion Warrawee Ubeaut, Breeders Crown champion Peaky Sneaky and a field featuring some of the best Open pacing mares on the Grand Circuit this year.

Here is the complete draw:

$100,000 Clara Barton Distaff Pace

1 Soho Burning Love A Tim Tetrick Jim King Jr.
2 JK First Lady Dexter Dunn Nancy Takter
3 Lyons Sentinel Tim Tetrick Jim King Jr.
4 Rocknificent Scott Zeron Linda Toscano
5 Hen Party Andrew McCarthy Tony Alagna
6 Peaky Sneaky Todd McCarthy Nancy Takter
7 Keep Rockin A Brian Sears R. Nifty Norman
8 Warrawee Ubeaut Yannick Gingras Ron Burke
9 Snobbytown David Miller Ron Burke

And for the first time in eight years, the Bert Beckwith Memorial Pace returns to Plainridge Park with a purse of $50,900. The field is composed of the best Open talent competing weekly at Plainridge Park.

Here is the field of nine:

1 Force N Fury Tim Tetrick Mark Eaton
2 Artful Way Bruce Ranger Jackie Greene
3 Major Leaguer Mark Beckwith Marissa Chadbourne
4 Cigars And Port Andrew McCarthy Lisa Watson
5 Rock Diamonds N Ron Cushing Heidi Gibbs
6 Put To Right Yannick Gingras Joe Nelson
7 Sports Obsession Drew Monti Jimmy Nickerson
8 Mansome Kevin Switzer Jr. Elisha Lafreniere
9 Stihl N Dexter Dunn Paul McHugh

Post time for Spirit of Massachusetts day is 2 p.m.

By Tim Bojarski, for Plainridge Park