The second session of three-year-olds went behind the gate in the $3 million Massachusetts Sire Stakes program at Plainridge Park on Monday afternoon (Oct. 2) and the close competition produced five new lifetime marks, only two winning favourites and seven different trainers each winning one division over the lightning fast track.
Six of the seven divisions were split, more specifically for male trotters and fillies of both gaits and each went for $40,000.
The only group that went as one $75,000 division was the “glamour boy” sophomore pacers in which Rooster Bennett (So Surreal-Teddy Ballgirl) crowed loudest again. Yannick Gingras bided his time in second with Rooster Bennett while Good Will Lindy (Mitchell Cushing) set a :25.3 quarter. But as the leader began stopping at the half, Gingras pulled Rooster Bennett and took control at that station. Now established on the point, Rooster Bennett rationed out the speed to three-quarters and finished strong in the lane, holding off a game So Rock N Roll (Kevin Switzer Jr.) to win by 1-3/4 lengths in 1:53.
It was the second straight Massachusetts Sire Stakes win for Rooster Bennett ($2.60), who is owned and bred by his trainer Nancy Longobardi, in partnership with Domenic Longobardi.
The fastest mile of the stake card was turned in by the pacing filly Dame (Dudes The Man-Seat By The Window), who is also two-for-two in the Sire Stakes this year. Jim Hardy sent Dame to the front in the non-betting event that took place before the first race and never looked back. After setting panels of :28, :57.2 and 1:25.2, Dame scooted home in a swift :27.1 to stop the clock at 1:52.3, giving her a new lifetime mark. The time was also just one-fifth of a second off the stakes record.
Dame (pictured above) is owned and bred by Stephen Richard and trained by Jolene Andrews.
The second group of filly pacers went an equally impressive mile as South St Dottie (Western Maverick-No Shadows) turned in a career mile. Nick Graffam took the lead from post one with South St Dottie and got to the half in :56.3 when the heat really came. Azariya (Yannick Gingras) and Danceforthemoney (Shawn Gray) were in the outer flow heading to three-quarters and closing ground in the last turn. Danceforthemoney was right on South St Dotties wheel at the top of the stretch and paced alongside her all the way to the wire. But she came up a neck short as South St Dottie hung on to win in 1:53.3 to establish a new lifetime mark.
South St Dottie ($8.60) is owned and bred by Jan Donaway and is trained by Mike Graffam.
The first group of male trotters was bested by Yo Lucky Moni (International Moni-Unbelindyble), who got his victory on the strength of a career-best effort. Jimmy Whittemore also cut the mile with Yo Lucky Moni, who took a two-length lead to the :58.4 half. International Man (Yannick Gingras) got into the action on the outside up the backstretch and got to within one-half length of Yo Lucky Moni at the top of the stretch. But as they headed down the lane, Yo Lucky Moni would not be denied and won by a length in 1:54.4.
Yo Lucky Moni ($20.80) is owned by Verlin Yoder and trained by Marissa Chadbourne. Lindy Farms of Connecticut bred the winner.
In the second split for male trotters, Wallop (Walner-Love N Lindy) garnered his second straight Sire Stakes win and fifth straight overall. Yannick Gingras sent Wallop to the front and got to the half in an easy :59.1 before Walters Keepsake (Nick Graffam) moved first-over from third to apply some pressure. Wallop maintained control, but the pesky Walters Keepsake wouldn’t go away. The two trotters battled all the way to the line where Wallop won by a neck in 1:57.1.
Wallop ($2.60) is owned by Thestable Wallop Group and is trained by Melissa Beckwith. Wallop was bred by K R Breeding.
The winners of both filly trots also took lifetime marks.
Laurens Hoopla (E L Titan-Tattoo You) took the lead past the quarter and was in full flight to the half in :57. She was a loose leader heading up the backstretch and into the last turn where the heavy favourite The Wise One (Yannick Gingras) had made her way from fourth to second and was only a length away from the leader. However, that was as close as she would get as Laurens Hoopla was very strong in the lane and won by 1-1/2 lengths in a lifetime-best 1:54.4.
Laurens Hoopla ($25) is owned and bred by Ray Campbell Jr. and trained by George Ducharme.
The second group had a runaway winner in Poppy Wow (Crazy Wow-Tori Hall), who got a perfect rating from Ivan Davies. After backing down the second quarter to :30, Davies tapped the gas and Poppy Wow opened up four lengths at three-quarters. From there, she swelled up and trotted home all alone on top by seven lengths in 1:55.4, which was a new lifetime mark.
Poppy Wow ($17.40) is owned by Shirley Michaud along with Earl and Kathy Beaman, who also bred the winner.
Live racing will resume at Plainridge Park on Tuesday, Oct. 3 at 2 p.m. when the second leg of the Massachusetts Sire Stakes goes behind the gate featuring the state’s best bred two-year-olds. Also, there will be a $17,932 carryover in the Wicked Hi-5 pentafecta wager in race six.
(Standardbred Owners of Massachusetts)