Track record set in $100,000 Battle of Bunker Hill

Plainville, MA — While making only the second start of his harness racing career, Jonas K S (Centurion ATM-Crown Classic) put in an overpowering performance and set a track record for 3-year-old trotting colts after winning the inaugural $100,000 Battle of Bunker Hill Trot at Plainridge Park on Monday afternoon (May 16).

Driver Kevin Switzer Jr. left sharply with Jonas K S and kept post time favorite S I P (Yannick Gingras) in the pocket as they hit the quarter in :27. After rolling past that station, Gingras tipped S I P and tried to advance but Jonas K S trotted on and put him back in the hole. The group hit the half in :55.1 when Wily Wally (Bruce Ranger) pulled from third and tried to push the issue.

Jonas K S maintained his 1-½ length lead up the backstretch and to the three-quarters in 1:23.3 while Wily Wally hung outside and S I P waited in the pocket to make his bid at the top of the stretch. But when Gingras tipped S I P as they hit the stretch, he made a break and Jonas K S was home free. He motored down the lane to the wire on top by 12-½ lengths and took a new lifetime mark, as well as the track record, with a 1:53 clocking.

“He’s a very nice horse. They said he was a little lazy, so I scored him down pretty good and put him right on the gate and gave him a shot. When S I P came at him past the quarter he was pretty grabby so I just kept him rolling and hoped for the best,” said Kevin Switzer. “Even if S I P didn’t break at the head of the stretch, I don’t think he would have beaten my horse. I think the only way he’d have lost today is if he beat himself. That was a heck of a mile.”

Jonas K S ($8.60) is now a perfect two for two lifetime with $56,000 earned for owners Knutsson Trotting (who also bred the winner), Little E and Stall Kalmar. Ake Svanstedt trains the winner.

JONAS K S REPLAY

The Grand Circuit will make one more stop at Plainridge Park this year on Sunday (July 24) for the $250,000 Spirit of Massachusetts Trot and $100,000 Clara Barton Distaff Pace.

For complete race results, click here.

By Tim Bojarski, for the Standardbred Owners of Massachusetts