Mass-breds battle in $260,000 second leg

Plainville, MA — The $2.5 Million (est.) Massachusetts Sire Stakes returned to Plainridge Park on Monday (Oct. 3) and featured the second round of harness racing 2-year-old contests with a total purse of $260,000 up for grabs.

There were a total of six races held with the colt trotters and filly pacers going one division for $65,000 each and the colt pacers and filly trotters split into two divisions valued at $32,500 each.

Starting with the trotting fillies, Milliondollarwall (Walner-Mom’s Millionaire) remained undefeated lifetime after scoring her fourth win in four starts while claiming her second MASS victory.

Yannick Gingras gave Milliondollarwall the perfect pocket trip behind Get The Picture (Jay Randall) who led until the top of the stretch while setting even fractions. That’s where Milliondollarwall made her move to the outside and trotted right by Get The Picture en route to a four length win in 1:57.1.

MILLIONDOLLARWALL REPLAY

Milliondollarwall ($2.10) was bred and is owned by Moni Maker Stable and is trained by Domenico Cecere.

The other division of female trotters went to Laurens Hoopla (E L Titan-Tattoo You) who more than made up for her miscue last week.

Nick Graffam sat third with Laurens Hoopla while the heavily favored Pembroke Moni (Yannick Gingras) got to the half in :58.4. Laurens Hoopla came first-over at that station for the outside grind that saw her draw alongside the leader heading into the stretch. After matching strides to the wire, Laurens Hoopla got the advantage over Pembroke Moni and won by one-half length in 1:56.2, which was a new lifetime mark and only one-fifth of a second off the stake record.

LAURENS HOOPLA REPLAY

Laurens Hoopla ($9.80) was bred and is owned by Ray Campbell Jr. and is trained by George Ducharme.

The pacing colts and geldings fastest division went to Rooster Bennett (So Surreal-Teddy Ballgirl) who also got his second MASS win and extended his personal win streak to four.

Luke McGook (Kevin Switzer Jr.) bolted to the front with Rooster Bennett (Yannick Gingras) on his back through quarters of :27.3, :58.1 and 1:27.3. Gingras tipped Rooster Bennett in the last turn and drew even with Luke McGook and from there the pair paced furiously to the wire where Rooster Bennett was able to forge forward by a head and win in 1:56.2.

Bred and owned by Nancy Longobardi and Domenic Longobardi, the George Ducharme-trained Rooster Bennett returned $2.20.

The second division of this group also had a great stretch duel where So Rock N’ Roll (Western Maverick-So So Sweet) came up big late to claim the win.

So Rock N’ Roll (Kevin Switzer Jr.) took the lead off the gate but Your Brother (Bruce Ranger) made a move past the quarter and gained the front before the half. So Rock N’ Roll then sat in the pocket behind the leader to three-quarters where the pair broke away from the field. When they straightened out for home, Switzer tipped out and unleashed So Rock N’ Roll who then methodically paced right by Your Brother under a line drive to win by one length in 1:57.1, which was a new lifetime mark.

SO ROCK N’ ROLL REPLAY

So Rock N’ Roll ($2.20) is trained by Marc Tardif for owner Leighton Property. Leslie Leighton is the winning breeder.

The best of the male trotters this week was Yo Lucky Moni (International Moni-Unbelindyble) who sat behind a speed duel and pounced late for the win.

Te Amo Lindy (Yannick Gingras) took the lead but Inter Mischief (Kevin Switzer Jr.) who got away third, pulled quickly and was next to the leader at the quarter pole in :28.1. However he was unable to gain the lead and Te Amo Lindy rimmed Inter Mischief to the half in :57.1 and three-quarters in 1:27.1 while Yo Lucky Moni (Jimmy Whittemore) drafted right behind them. In the last turn Inter Mischief finally tired, giving Yo Lucky Moni the out he needed.

While still two lengths behind Te Amo Lindy at the head of the stretch, Whittemore got after Yo Lucky Moni who then got in gear and really started to trot. He flew down the lane and caught Te Amo Lindy by a neck at the line and won in 1:56.1.

YO LUCKY MONI REPLAY

Yo Lucky Moni ($8.00) is owned by Verlin Yoder and is trained by Marrissa Chadbourne. Lindy Farms of Connecticut bred the winner.

Finally in the filly pacing division, Dame (Dude’s The Man-Seat By The Window) bested her peers as the only gate to wire stake winner of the day.

Jimmy Hardy pushed Dame hard for the front and out-fought Seafood Beauty (Jay Randall) for that privilege. Dame crossed over just past the :28 quarter and then laid down the law from there. After getting no legitimate challenge for the next half mile, Dame opened up a two length advantage by three-quarters that she kept all the way to the line where she won in 1:55.1.

DAME REPLAY

Dame ($6.60) was bred and is owned by Stephen Richard and is trained by Jolene Andrews.

Live racing resumes at Plainridge Park on Tuesday afternoon (Oct. 4) at 2 p.m. Free full past performance race programs for all live race days can be downloaded by visiting the track’s website and clicking the “Racing” tab.

For complete race results, click here.

by Tim Bojarski, for the Standardbred Owners of Massachusetts