Gingras nearly sweeps Massachusetts Sire Stakes

Plainville, MA — The third leg of the $2.24 Massachusetts Sire Stakes for 3-year-olds of both sexes and gaits were held at Plainridge Park on Monday (Oct. 18) and Hall of Fame harness racing driver Yannick Gingras stole the show.

Gingras won three consecutive $60,000 divisions of the four on the program and did so by open lengths in all of them. Then later on the card, pacing filly Suzie Blue Chip set a new MASS record for her age, gait and gender in the last stake of the day.

The first two events were non-betting and held before the first race.

Gingras started out winning the trotting filly division with Moni For Lindy (Credit Winner-Live Moni) who took the lead at the quarter and incrementally stretched out her top margin throughout the mile. After hitting three-quarters in 1:27, Moni For Lindy turned on the burners and simply took off, hitting the line 12-1/2 lengths in front and claiming a 1:55.4 win.

Moni For Lindy is now undefeated in MASS competition this year and has pushed her bankroll to $301,377 as a result. Owned by Greathorse and trained by Domenico Cecere, Moni For Lindy was bred by the Moni Maker Stable.

Next Gingras toyed with the pacing colts with Mullinax (American Ideal-Up Front Kellie Jo) who also remained unbeaten in stake action at Plainridge. Mullinax was up by two lengths at the quarter and kept everyone single file in chase for most of the mile. At the top of the stretch Mullinax started to stretch out as he closed the mile with a :27.2 panel to win by five in 1:52.3.

Mullinax has now pocketed $174,547 this year on the strength of his Massachusetts stake victories for owner William Varney. The colt is trained by Mark Ford who also bred him along with Ed Mullinax.

Gingras then got the natural stake hat trick behind Incommunicado (Chapter Seven-Gran Cavalla) who was much the best again among his trotting colts peers. Incommunicado opened up three-lengths at the quarter and was never confronted from there.

After a soft half of :58.2 and three-quarters in 1:27.3, Incommunicado switched gears, trotted home in :28.3 and won by 7-1/2 lengths in a lifetime best of 1:56.1.

It was the third straight MASS win for Incommunicado ($2.10) who now has $190,015 in the bank this year for owners Knutsson Trotting, Little E, Arthur Geiger and David Stolz. Ake Svanstedt trains the winner who was bred by the Moni Maker Stable.

INCOMMUNICADO REPLAY

The fourth and final division was for pacing mares and Suzie Blue Chip (American Ideal-Betty Hill) re-wrote the record book.

Drew Campbell didn’t waste any time shuffling Suzie Blue Chip off the gate and to the lead but had Eyemadream (Shawn Gray) parked out and pushing the pace a long way. After a half in :56 and three-quarters in 1:24.2 Suzie Blue Chip was still going strong on the point while Eyemadream faded away. However, So amazing (Bruce Ranger) and Rightfully Mine (Yannick Gingras) were now in play and trying to chase down the leader. They weren’t going to catch Suzie Blue Chip on this day as she paced away to a five length win in 1:52.2.

The time was a new lifetime mark for Suzie Blue Chip and also set a new Massachusetts Sire Stake record for 3-year-old pacing fillies. This was the third consecutive week this stake record was broken and by three different fillies.

It was the first MASS win and second overall win of the year for Suzie Blue Chip ($16.60) who is owned by Kapildeo Singh and trained by John Gerow. Blue Chip Farms bred Suzie Blue Chip.

SUZIE BLUE CHIP REPLAY

The 2021 Massachusetts Sire Stakes will conclude next Monday (Oct. 25) with eight divisions of 2 and 3-year-olds competing in the finals that are worth a total of $800,000 (est.) that will be held at Plainridge Park. Post time for the first race will be at 2 p.m.

For full race results, click here.

By Tim Bojarski, for the Standardbred Owners of Massachusetts