Elite Free-For-Allers to battle in $250,000 Spirit of Massachusetts

A big 11-dash harness racing card is set for Sunday (July 21) which is headlined by the $250,000 Spirit Of Massachusetts. The card also features the $100,000 Clara Barton Pace and the $75,000 Bert Beckwith Memorial Invitational.

Nine three-year-old and older trotters draw into the main event in the ninth race.

The morning line favourite, Chapercraz (Crazy Wow), is coming off a big win in the Hambletonian Maturity. He paced the mile and an eighth affair in 2:05.2. It was his first win of the year after winning five victories in 2023. Before his recent triumph, Chapercraz was competing in the Graduate Series at the Meadowlands and although he wasn’t winning, he was finding his way into the top three. He has been a betting longshot in his last few raves but that will likely change on Sunday. Yannick Gingras will be back in the bike behind Chapercraz for trainer Ron Burke.

A potential longshot to keep an eye on is the six-year-old Incommunicado (Chapter Seven). He opens at 7-1 even with his back-to-back wins in the Invitational Trots at Yonkers Raceway. He will likely need to post a mile time around or better than his best of 1:53.3. The rising star driver, Brett Beckwith will be given the reins as he is having the best year of his young career. With already 383 wins and over $4.3 million in prize money earned, Beckwith is on pace to smash his previous best and he receives the opportunity to add a big stake race win to his growing resume.

The Archangel-sired gelding, Logan Park has won three of his last four all in either the Open or Preferred Trot at Woodbine Mohawk Park. He achieved his lifetime mark of 1:51.2 during his latest hot stretch and is coming off a 1:56.2 qualifying mile. The six-year-old gelding sure has the speed to cause the minor morning line upset and could receive some extra wagers coming from north of the border. Doug McNair makes the trip and will be in the sulky behind Logan Park once again.

The field for the Spirit Of Massachusetts is as follows:

1. Buddy Earl – Matthew Athearn (25-1)                           
2. Logan Park – Douglas Mcnair (9-2)                 
3. Esplosione – Bruce Ranger (25-1)                   
4. Take All Comers – Todd McCarthy    (6-1)                   
5. Chapercraz – Yannick Gingras (2-1)                
6. It`s Academic – David Miller (4-1)                   
7. Delayed Hanover – Tim Tetrick (25-1)                          
8. Incommunicado – Brett Beckwith (7-1)                       
9. Helpfirstedition – Scott Zeron  (6-1)               

Three-year-old and older pacing mares have their time to shine a couple of races earlier in the seventh.

A lot of eyes will be on Sylvia Hanover (Always B Miki) as she looks to return to the winner’s circle for the first time this year.  The reigning Breeders Crown for three-year-old pacing fillies has finished second four times in six starts this year. She is coming off a phenomenal sophomore year with 10 wins in 13 starts and earned over $767,000 in prize money. It won’t be easy as the other six mares in the field are top-notch competition, but Syvia Hanover is more than due for a win. Tim Tetrick will handle driving duties for trainer Mark Steacy.

Grace Hill (Always B Miki) is the top earner in the field with over $1.7 million but is also the oldest mare in the field at six years old. Sunday will mark her 70th career start and she will be looking to add her 33rd career win. She has won three times this year and her fast mile came in 1:49.1 at the Meadowlands. Grace Hill’s lifetime best mile was 1:47.4 at Woodbine Mohawk Park last year. She ended 2023 with 10 wins and 13 top-three finishes in 15 starts. Virgil Morgan Jr. trains the veteran mare.

The field for the Clara Barton Pace is as follows:

1. Sylvia Hanover – Tim Tetrick (2-1)                    
2. Sweet Cheyanne – Scott Zeron (15-1)            
3. Beach Cowgirl – David Miller (7-2)                  
4. Talk Curdy To Me – Todd McCarthy (7-1)                      
5. Always B Naughty – Yannick Gingras (3-1)                
6. Grace Hill – Douglas Mcnair (4-1)                    
7. Valar Dohaeris – Kevin Switzer (12-1)

For complete race entries, click here: US Trotting results.

by Trey Colbeck, for Harnesslink