The Massachusetts Standardbred breeding program has grown exponentially in recent years thanks to the Commonwealth’s Race Horse Development Fund (RHDV) that was started in 2011 in conjunction with the state’s expanded gaming legislation.

The program is designed to promote the breeding of Massachusetts Standardbreds to both upgrade the racing program and sustain industry jobs along with supporting agricultural businesses associated with breeding and racing.

Since the inception of the RHDF, interest in the breeding program has gone well beyond the state’s borders as horsemen across North America have taken notice of the growing and lucrative stake program that has evolved. With this influx of business, Standardbreds foaled in Massachusetts have achieved new heights and their recent records and earnings numbers are the proof.

Of the 18 categories that make up race records kept in the state (2yo/3yo/4yo+ -- fillies/mares, colts, geldings -- trotters, pacers), Massachusetts-bred Standardbreds have set new marks in 16 of them since the RHDF was started, with 13 of the 18 taken in just the last two years.

And these horses are earning more money for their connections, making it easier for them to reinvest in the industry. In the history of harness racing in the state, 80 of the top 100 money earning horses bred in Massachusetts were foaled after the RHDF began.

The resident mare program in Massachusetts requires broodmares to be registered in the state by December 1 in the year prior to foaling and the foaling must be reported to the Department of Agriculture while the foal remains on a Massachusetts farm. This program offers the flexibility of breeding to any stallion in any other state, giving the owner the option of racing in two sire stake programs each year. This has become more prominent recently and as a result, the Massachusetts Sire Stakes have become more competitive with stakes tested horses coming to Massachusetts in late September ready to roll.

This year, the Massachusetts Sire Stakes (MASS) could be the most lucrative ever, but also holds the possibility of being the most productive on the track as many eligible horses are already competing at a high level in New York, New Jersey, Kentucky, Pennsylvania and Maine.

Since 2017, every Massachusetts stakes record has been broken at least once. Seven records were broken last year (five new, two of them broken twice) including all four pacing categories.

As the MASS series prepares to kick off again on Sunday, Sept. 26, these are some of the horses that may rewrite the Massachusetts record books this year.

Two-year-old filly trotters

Moni Heist (Walner-Nothing But Moni) started in the New Jersey Sire Stakes this year and has recently won two straight starts in the Kentucky Commonwealth Series, taking a new lifetime mark of 1:55.4.

(Breeder: Moni Maker Stable - Owner: Moni Maker Stable - Trainer: Domenico Cecere)

Raised By Lindy (Walner-Birthright) won a leg of the New Jersey Sire Stakes in a personal best 1:54.3 at the Meadowlands in June and just raced in the $326,850 Jim Doherty Memorial at the Meadowlands, finishing six lengths behind Venerable, who won in 1:52.

(Breeder: Lindy Farms of Connecticut - Owner: Lindy Farms of Connecticut - Trainer: Domenico Cecere)

Two-year-old colt trotters

Branded By Lindy (Chapter Seven-The Lindy Label) is currently on a two-race winning streak in the Kentucky Commonwealth Series. But the trotter has also earned the designation of now being the fastest two-year-old trotting colt ever bred in Massachusetts on the strength of his 1:54 win at The Red Mile on August 15. He replicated that time one week later during his second win on August 23.

(Breeder: Lindy Farms of Connecticut - Owner: Lindy Farms of Connecticut - Trainer: Domenico Cecere)

Two-year-old filly pacers

Dudes Sweet Bet (Dudes The Man-Sweet Bettor) has been racing in the New York Sire Stakes and Excel A Series and just took a lifetime mark of 1:54.1 in the Excel A at Tioga Downs on August 22.

(Breeders/Owners: Triple C Stables and Christopher Lems - Trainer: Jessica Okusko)

Pembroke Legacy (Baron Biltmore-Pembroke Oasis) is currently the top point-getter in her category in the Maine Sire Stakes, having won three out of her four lifetime starts with a best outing of 1:58.1 at Skowhegan.

(Breeder/Owner: William Varney - Trainer: Valerie Grondin)

So Flo (So Surreal-Teddy Ballgirl) won a leg of the New York Sire Stakes Excel A at Saratoga Raceway in 1:56.2 on August 10 and has improved weekly over her only four lifetime starts.

(Breeders/Owners: Nancy Longobardi, Domenic Longobardi - Trainer: George Ducharme)

Two-year-old colt pacers

Treacherous Tom (Captaintreacherous-Kate Is Well Said) has yet to win this year but has found his competition very tough so far. After finishing second in the Tompkins-Geers Stake at the Meadowlands in June, Treacherous Tom moved to the Pennsylvania Sire Stakes, where he has done very well with two thirds in four starts and has been race timed in 1:52.1.

(Breeder: Fashion Farms - Owners: Thomas Dillon, Scott Dillon - Trainer: Ron Burke)

Ugotaearnyrstripes (Deuce Seelster-Armbro BMW) is the current freshman colt pacing leader in the Maine Sire Stakes and has three wins in four lifetime starts.

(Breeder/Owner: Edward Blash - Trainer: Stephen La Casse)

The sophomore class has all four two-year-old MASS champions returning to defend their titles.

Three-year-old filly trotters

Moni For Lindy (Credit Winner-Live Moni) was a $70,000 winner at two and has more than doubled that this year with $161,377 on her card. She is the current point leader in her division of the New York Sire Stakes having won three out of four starts with one second. Her 1.53.4 win at Vernon Downs on June 4 was a lifetime mark but also made her the fastest three-year-old trotting filly ever bred in Massachusetts.

(Breeder: Moni Maker Stable - Owner: Greathorse - Trainer: Domenico Cecere)

Royal Envy (RC Royalty-Temper Of Will) was the two-year-old MASS distaff trotting champion last year and she swept all three legs of the stake before winning the final. This year she has two wins -- one in Excel A stakes action -- and has been on the board more than 50 per cent of the time. She took a new lifetime mark of 1:55.3 at Vernon Downs and should be a top contender in the MASS once again.

(Breeders/Owners: Al Ross, Ray Campbell Jr. - Trainer: George Ducharme)

Three-year-old colt trotters

Incommunicado (Chapter Seven-Gran Cavalla) was the two-year-old male trotting champion in the MASS after finishing third in the $225,000 New York Sire Stakes final and has kept rolling this year. He won the $115,583 Dexter Cup at Freehold in May and finished third in the $206,500 Empire Breeders Classic at Vernon Downs in June. Now with earnings of $331,390 lifetime, he ranks as the 12th richest Standardbred ever bred in Massachusetts.

(Breeder: Moni Maker Stable - Owners: Knuttson Trotting, Little E, Arthur Geiger and David Stolz - Trainer: Ake Svanstedt)

Three-year-old filly pacers

Rightfully Mine (American Ideal-Leah) has not missed a cheque in the New York Sire Stakes this year, winning one leg in June and currently sitting seventh in points in her NYSS division. She is seven out of eight in the money this year with a new lifetime mark of 1:52.2 taken at Plainridge Park.

(Breeder: Monique Cohen - Owners: Arthur Scussel, Monique Cohen - Trainer: Sheena Mcelhiney)

So Amazing (So Surreal-Teddy Ballgirl) is having a great year hitting the board nine out of 10 starts in 2021. She is currently the leading three-year-old filly money earner in the New York Sire Stakes Excel A Series having won three legs and has also taken a new lifetime mark of 1:52.3 at Plainridge Park in June.

(Breeders/Owners: Nancy Longobardi, Domenic Longobardi - Trainer: George Ducharme)

Seafood Sweetheart (American Ideal-Seafood Annie) is the leading point-getter in the New York Sire Stakes Excel A Series and has three victories in that stakes this year. She too lowered her mark to 1:53.1 at Plainridge and will be formidable competition in the upcoming MASS.

(Breeder/Owner: Seafood Delight Stable - Trainer: Sheena Mcelhiney)

Purameri (American Ideal-JK Pure Pearl) was the MASS two-year-old champion and set a new stake record of 1:52.4 in the process. This year she has been racing in the New York Sire Stakes with one win and just competed in the $214,000 Empire Breeders Classic at Tioga Downs on Sunday against Test Of Faith.

(Breeders: 3 Brothers Stable, Camelot Stable - Owner: Purple Haze Stable - Trainer: Jessica Okusko)

Northern Storm (Mcardle-Betit To Getit) won back to back starts in Lexington last year at two before making consecutive breaks in her only two stake starts in Massachusetts. This year, she won an overnight event at the Meadowlands in 1:49.4 in June to gain the distinction of being the fastest Standardbred regardless of age, gait or gender ever bred in Massachusetts. With only 11 lifetime starts to date and the exhibition of speed shown earlier this year, this filly could be one to watch in September.

(Breeder: Holland Farms - Owner: Holland Racing Stable - Trainer:Tony Alagna)

Three-year-old colt pacers

Mullinax (American Ideal-Up Front Kellie Jo) was the two-year-old MASS champion and set a new stakes record of 1:53.4 in the process. He spent most of his summer this year in New York winning the Landmark Stakes in Goshen and garnering cheques in all four of his New York Sire Stakes appearances. On Sunday, he finished third in the $104,000 Empire Breeders Classic and was race timed in 1:51. He is the definite favourite to repeat in the division this year.

(Breeder: Ed Mullinax - Owner: William Varney - Trainer: Mark Ford)

Call Me Maverick (Western Maverick-Briefly) has been the leading three-year-old pacing colt in Maine stakes competition for two years. He was a perfect eight for eight in 2020 and two-year-old Maine Sire Stakes champion. He is currently seven out of eight this year with one second due to broken equipment. His lifetime mark is 1:54 at Plainridge taken in stake action last year but he paced his best mile of 2021 in 1:55.3 over the half at Skowhegan. His consistency may be his ticket to MASS rewards next month.

(Breeder/Owner: Upland Farm - Trainer: Gordon Corey)

Here is the complete Massachusetts Sire Stakes schedule for 2021:

Sunday, Sept. 26 - Three-year-olds - First Leg
Monday, Sept. 27 - Two-year-olds - First Leg
Sunday, Oct. 3 - Three-year-olds Second Leg
Monday, Oct. 4 - Two-year-olds - Second Leg
Sunday, Oct. 17 - Two-year-olds - Third Leg
Monday, Oct. 18 - Three-year-olds - Third Leg
Monday, Oct. 25 - Two-year-olds & Three-year-olds - Finals

(With files from Standardbred Owners of Massachusetts)