Plainville, MA — The $250,000 Spirit of Massachusetts Trot will be held at Plainridge Park on Sunday (July 21) during the biggest harness racing race day of the summer in Massachusetts. The card also features the $100,000 Clara Barton Distaff Pace and the $75,000 Bert Beckwith Memorial Pace on a day with a total of more than $600,000 in purses up for grabs. Below are the selections of eight racing media members who made their picks for the three marquee events.
Gordon Waterstone – Harness Racing Hall of Fame – Racing Journalist
BERT BECKWITH MEMORIAL PACE
7 Natameri returns to Plainridge where he won nicely last month after a pair of starts from poor posts on a half-mile track.
2 Fourever Boy
6 Heaven On High N
Ā CLARA BARTON PACE
1 Sylvia Hanover wasĀ Canadaās 2023 Horse of the Year,Ā has been knocking on the door and is ready to get the job done in this spot.
5 AlwaysĀ B Naughty
6 GraceĀ Hill
Ā SPIRIT OF MASSACHUSETTS TROT
6 ItāsĀ Academic is the reigning Dan Patch Older Male Trotter of the YearĀ andĀ should be primed and ready in his second start of the year.
7 Delayed Hanover
5 Chapercraz
Ā Bob āHollywoodā Heyden – Harness Racing Hall of Fame – Broadcaster and Historian
BERT BECKWITH MEMORIAL PACE
2 FoureverĀ BoyĀ needs any check for a 7-figure career and has FIVE down-under breds to deal with.
1Ā BigĀ Skewy N
5 I’mĀ NoĀ Outlaw
Ā CLARA BARTON PACEĀ Ā
1Ā SylviaĀ HanoverĀ was Tetrickās easy choice. He comes in off a monstrous try and must just stay close to Grace Hill early.
6 GraceĀ Hill
7 ValarĀ Dohaeris
Ā SPIRIT OF MASSACHUSETTS TROT
2 LoganĀ ParkĀ is also on the doorstep ofĀ oneĀ million and figures to control the race.
6 ItāsĀ Academic
7 Helpfirstedition
Ā Ken Warkentin – Harness Racing Hall of Fame – Meadowlands Track Announcer – Voice of the Hambletonian
BERT BECKWITH MEMORIAL PACE
1Ā Big SkewyĀ N returns to Plainridge where he wonĀ in 1:49.2 andĀ plays a stalking role from the rail.
2Ā Fourever Boy
3Ā Sumomentsomwhere
Ā CLARA BARTON PACE
1Ā Sylvia HanoverĀ isĀ Canadaās defending Horse of the Year,Ā has tangled with the raging Twin B Joe FreshĀ andĀ stands out on the rail.
5Ā Always B Naughty
6Ā Grace Hill
Ā SPIRIT OF MASSACHUSETTS TROT
6Ā Itās AcademicĀ was theĀ 2023 Spirit winner, Dan Patch Award winnerĀ andĀ world championĀ and isĀ poised for a big effort.
2Ā Logan Park
5Ā Chapercraz
Ā Ken Weingartner – Harness Racing Hall of Fame – USTA Media Relations Manager
BERT BECKWITH MEMORIAL PACE
2Ā Fourever BoyĀ has made himself at home at Plainridge with five wins since arriving in May. HeāsĀ the one to beat here.
1Ā Big Skewy N
7Ā Natameri
CLARA BARTON PACE
5Ā Always B NaughtyĀ is a consistent mareĀ thatĀ getsĀ aĀ prime postĀ andĀ owns a win over Sylvia Hanover earlier this year.
1Ā Sylvia Hanover
3 Beach Cowgirl
SPIRIT OF MASSACHUSETTS TROT
5Ā ChapercrazĀ arrives in top form offĀ hisĀ Hambo Maturity win and several strong efforts prior.
6Ā Itās Academic
2Ā Logan Park
Garnet Barnsdale – DRF Harness and Ontario Racing HandicapperĀ Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā
BERT BECKWITH MEMORIAL PACE
2 Fourever Boy writes the story himself with Beckwith steering the winner.
5 Iām No Outlaw N
3 Sumomentsomwhere A
CLARA BARTON PACE
1 Sylvia Hanover gets Tetrick and the rail and should be tough here.
6 Grace Hill
4 Talk Curdy To Me
SPIRIT OF MASSACHUSETTS TROT
2 Logan Park is a Canadian monster who will have to be caught.
5 Chapercraz
6 Itās Academic
Ā Derick Giwner – DRF Harness Editor
BERT BECKWITH MEMORIAL PACE
7 NatameriĀ is back on normal rest and can make amends for a second-place finish in 2023.
6 Heaven On HighĀ N
2Ā FoureverĀ Boy
CLARA BARTON PACE
1 Sylvia HanoverĀ gets away from the best horse in the country and should finally pick up a win.
5 AlwaysĀ B Naughty
6 GraceĀ Hill
SPIRIT OF MASSACHUSETTS TROT
6 ItāsĀ AcademicĀ takes on easier andĀ theĀ defending champion is quite versatile.
5 Chapercraz
2 LoganĀ Park
Ā Lenny Calderone – Plainridge Park Track Announcer
BERT BECKWITH MEMORIAL PACE
2Ā Fourever BoyĀ is in raging form having wonĀ theĀ last three Open events at Plainridge. TheĀ 5-year-old drewĀ well and seems likely to have his picture taken once again.
1Ā BigĀ SkewyĀ N
3Ā Sumomentsomwhere A
CLARA BARTON PACE
1 Sylvia Hanover has put forth some solid efforts but remains winless in six tries this season.
6 Grace Hill
3 Beach Cowgirl
Ā SPIRIT OF MASSACHUSETTS TROT
5 Chapercraz got shuffled back to sixth before finding racing room in the late-going to win the $425,000 Hambletonian Maturity.
2 Logan Park
6 Itās Academic
Ā Tim Bojarski – Harness Racing Hall of Fame – Plainridge Park Racing Media Relations
BERT BECKWITH MEMORIAL PACE
2 Fourever Boy has dominated at this track this year and that trend will continue in this race.
1 Big Skewy N
7 Natameri
CLARA BARTON PACE
1 Sylvia Hanover has been coming up just short but gets it done today. Tetrick has won this race four consecutive times with Shartin N and Lyons Sentinel.
6 Grace Hill
3 Beach Cowgirl
SPIRIT OF MASSACHUSETTS TROT
6 Itās Academic has a tightener under his belt and will win his second straight Spirit of Massachusetts Trot.
4 Take All Comers
2 Logan Park
by Tim Bojarski, for Plainridge Park