Three records fall in Mass. Breeders Stakes

Plainville, MA — It was a record-breaking day in the Massachusetts Breeders Stake at Plainridge Park on Monday (Sept. 30) afternoon after three stake standards were rewritten by some of the finest state-bred 3-year-olds who were competing in the second leg of the harness racing series whose five races were valued at $305,000.

The pacing fillies went in two $40,000 splits due to the number of entries while all other divisions competed in one $75,000 dash.

The connections of driver Yannick Gingras, trainer Ron Burke and owners Thomas and Scott Dillon had a big day as they sent two record-breaking horses to post while another talented triumvirate of driver Bruce Ranger, trainer Domenico Cecere and owner/breeder Lindy Farms of Connecticut also boasted a record-setter in one of their two stake wins.

Gingras, Burke and Dillon got started in the $75,000 pace for colts and geldings where they saw their Rocknroll Lou (Sweet Lou-Beautiful Lady) win his second straight Mass Stake start in record time.

Rocknroll Lou got away third as O’er The Ramparts (Brett Beckwith) and Bang Ah Uey (Jimmy Hardy) traded leads in the :26.3 first quarter. After Bang Ah Uey finally crossed over, he settled in and got to the half in :55 before heading up the backstretch. As the race passed five-eighths, Gingras tipped Rocknroll Lou and bolted to the front before three-quarters, but couldn’t clear a defiant Bang Ah Uey around the last turn. But at the top of the stretch, Gingras asked more of Rocknroll Lou and he delivered, pacing home on top by 2-3/4 lengths in 1:51.1.

ROCKNROLL LOU REPLAY

The clocking was the fastest mile of his life for Rocknroll Lou ($2.10), who also set a new stake record for 3-year-old male pacers and became the fastest 3-year-old pacing gelding ever bred in Massachusetts.

Rocknroll Lou was bred by Lester Gelardi and Anthony Passafaro.

The Gingras, Burke and Dillon trio also won with Every Mans Dream (Always B Miki-Lindy’s Nightmare) who made it two in a row in the first $40,000 leg for 3-year-old pacing fillies.

Color Me Sweet (Brett Beckwith) was bold on the front and cut the mile while Every Mans Dream (Yannick Gingras) sat in the pocket. Color Me Sweet stepped off fractions of :27.2, :56.4 and 1:25.1 before entering the last turn. It was there that Gingras tipped Every Mans Dream and in a matter of a few strides, went right past the leader and then stormed home on top by 3-1/2 lengths in 1:52.4.

It was the third win of the year for Every Mans Dream in the non-betting event, who was bred by Lindy Farms of Connecticut.

Then the group of Ranger, Cecere and Lindy got to work and were responsible for the third stake record of the day that came in the $75,000 event for trotting fillies where their Treatyofversaille (International Moni-Birthright) turned in the mile of her life.

Dawn Of Lindy (Yannick Gingras) was the early leader until Ranger and Treatyofversaille came rolling up on the outside to take the lead past the quarter. From there, Treatyofversaille got to the half in :56.4 and three-quarters in 1:25.1 where Sassy Zaza (Brett Beckwith) was making her bid on the outside. As they made their way through the far turn, Treatyofversaille started to separate from the field and in the stretch, pulled away to a 2-¾ length victory in 1:53.4.

TREATYOFVERSAILLE REPLAY

The time was a new lifetime mark for Treatyofversaille ($4.40) and also rewrote the stake record for 3-year-old filly trotters.

Ranger, Cecere and Lindy’s second win came in the $75,000 trot for colts and geldings where Intl Blockade (International Moni-Love N Lindy) bounced back from an untimely break last week.

Ranger shot right to the front with Intl Blockade and posted snappy and uncontested quarters of :27.4, :57.4 and 1:26.2 before facing a challenge from Keep Asking (Nick Graffam), who moved first-over from fourth to sidle the leader in the last turn. At the top of the stretch, Keep Asking had fought his way to the lead, but the race was not over.  Intl Blockade manned-up and came back strong, taking back the lead at the top of the stretch before trotting home under a line-drive by Ranger to win in 1:54.4.

INTL BLOCKADE REPLAY

It was the sixth win in only 10 starts this year for Intl Blockade ($5.60)

The second $40,000 split for pacing fillies went to Beantown Ace (Captain Crunch-Ace Of Pace) who got the nod in a blanket finish.

Real Shady Lady (Shawn Gray) grabbed the lead at the quarter from Valentine Rose (Matty Athearn), but Valentine Rose recaptured the front and led the single-file field to the half in :57.2. As the race made its way to three-quarters, Beantown Ace pulled first-over and drew even with the leader before entering the final bend. In that turn, Real Shady Lady tipped three-wide around both of them and things got real interesting. When the group turned for home, Beantown Ace pulled ahead of Valentine Rose and then held off Real Shady Lady and the late closing Who’s Perfect (Heath Campbell) to win by a quarter length in 1:55.3.

It was the third win of the year for Beantown Ace ($6.20) who is owned and bred by Michael Goldberg Racing. George Ducharme trains the winner.

BEANTOWN ACE REPLAY

There was another impressive track record set in non-stake action later in the card where Leanne’s Choice (Courtly Choice-Village Madonna) turned in the fastest mile ever paced by a 3-year-old filly at Plainridge Park. And she did it as the only filly in the field against eight colts and geldings.

Making her first start since the Jugette in Delaware, Ohio, Leanne’s Choice (Marcus Miller) led every step of the way en route to a 1-¾ length victory in 1:50.2, which gave the filly a new lifetime mark and also set the new Plainridge standard.

Leanne’s Choice ($3.80) is owned by her trainer Erv Miller, in partnership with Ronald Michelon and Douglas Overhiser.

Racing resumes at Plainridge Park on Tuesday (Oct. 1) at 2 p.m. and the card will feature the second leg of the Massachusetts Breeders Stake for 2-year-olds.

For complete non-wagering race results, click here: US Trotting results.

For complete pari-mutuel race results, click here: US Trotting results.

by Tim Bojarski, for the Standardbred Owners of Massachusetts