$250,000 Spirit Of Massachusetts goes to parked out winner

It’s Academic (Uncle Peter) never saw a pylon, but it didn’t matter as he got up on the shadow of the wire to prevail in a thriller in the $250,000 Spirit Of Massachusetts Trot in Grand Circuit harness racing action at Plainridge Park on Sunday afternoon (July 23rd).

Leaving from the farthest outside post in the field of eight, It’s Academic saw several leavers fire off the gate to his left, which led to the overland trip. Kildare King (Trevor Smith) and Rattle My Cage (Ake Svandstedt) both fired out from the inside posts, but they were soon overtaken by Balenciaga (Mark Macdonald), who led the field past the quarter in :27.1.

But Svandstedt would soon move Rattle My Cage to the front as they headed to the half. Meanwhile, It’s Academic was left parked and following (8) Asteroid (Dexter Dunn), who had also been parked from the outset. Asteroid reached the front as the first half was clicked off in 56.0 and he would soon face the challenge of It’s Academic with Rattle My Cage riding the pocket.

Asteroid led through three quarters in 1:23.3 but It’s Academic wasn’t going away and neither was Rattle My Cage. When they fanned out at the head of the lane, all three were in with a chance, but It’s Academic had the best finishing kick and he got up right on the wire with Rattle My Cage skimming the pylons for 2nd, a neck back of the winner. It was another neck back to a game Asteroid who finished between the top two. Balenciaga was fourth and Herculisa (Austin Seigelman) closed for fifth. It’s Academic, who finished second in this race last year, scored the victory in 1:51.4.  He paid $4.80 as the favorite.

IT’S ACADEMIC REPLAY

Winning trainer Ron Burke beamed about his six-year-old stallion in the winner’s circle. “He’s really stepped up to where he is pretty much one of the best open trotters in the country now, if not the best,” Burke said. “You can put him on the front, you can take him to the back, you know, basically he has become a very, very good horse now.”

Victorious driver Miller explained the winning trip. “The way it lined up when Ake re-moved, I waited on Dexter and I figured he would clear,” Miller said. “I was just patient. I sat there with him, and I tried to go as slow as I could up the backstretch because he’s got one huge kick.”

Miller was clearly impressed by It’s Academic’s mile. “It was a battle, but he fights, he’s a big fighter,” Miller noted. “You know what? He earned that; he deserves it. He was out the whole mile, and he got the job done.”

Burke, who indicated that It’s Academic would make his next start on Hambletonian day on Saturday, August 5th at the Meadowlands, also mentioned he’d like another crack at the International Trot at Yonkers this fall. Last year, he started from the widest post 8 and passed seven horses to finish third. “I’d love to have a shot with him from the inside there,” Burke said.

It’s Academic was taking his fifth win in eight starts this year for owner Brad Grant of Ontario, Canada. The $125,000 he earned brought his lifetime earnings to $1.67 million.

For complete race results, click here: US Trotting Results

by Garnet Barnsdale, for Harnesslink