The third leg for three-year-old eligibles of the $2.56 million Massachusetts Sire Stakes (MASS) was held at Plainridge Park on Monday afternoon (Oct. 17) with $260,000 in purses up for grabs with four divisions valued at $65,000 each.

Treacherous Tom (Captaintreacherous-Kate) remained unbeaten in the stakes this year after taking his third straight win in the pacing colts and geldings division in a non-betting event held before the first race. 

Bruce Ranger put Treacherous Tom in his favourite spot -- on the point -- and got things his own way from there. With no pressure from behind, he skated through quarters of :26.3, :56.3 and 1:25 before turning for home and pacing away to a 3-1-/2-length win in 1:53.2. 

It was the fourth win in a row and ninth overall for the year from only 11 starts for Treacherous Tom, who is owned by Tom and Scott Dillon and trained by Joe Nelson. Fashion Farms bred the winner.

The male trotters were up next and Bill Bauer (E L Titan-Miss Flaggy Meadow) is moving towards becoming a two-time MASS champion after a convincing win.

Monis Heaven Cent (Jay Randall) took the early lead and parked Bill Bauer (Yannick Gingras) to the quarter in :28.2 before Gingras was able to get the trotter clear. Once he crossed over and settled in, the race was Bill Bauer's to win. Monis Heaven Cent tracked Bill Bauer from the quarter to the top of the final turn before he tipped and put forth a solid brush against the leader. But Bill Bauer responded and trotted away by 3-1/4-length win in a new lifetime mark of 1:56.1. 

It was the second straight win for Bill Bauer ($2.10), who is owned by his trainer Paul Kelley, in partnership with Joseph Palillo and Ellen Palillo. Bill Bauer was bred by East Pond Stable.

The filly trot was won by Moni Heist (Walner-Nothing But Moni) who took full advantage of a lot of early action to score late. 

It was a four horse dash for the lead that ended up a two horse battle between Dancin On The Wall (Yannick Gingras) and the parked-out Just Liv Broadway (Luke Hanners). These two got to the quarter in :27.4 and continued to spar past the half and up the backside while Moni Heist (Scott Zeron) was far back seventh. Nearing three-quarters, Wonderwall Lindy (Jay Randall) tipped three deep around the fading Just Liv Broadway and engaged Dancin On The Wall . At the same time, Moni Heist tipped three deep around the entire pack. At the top of the stretch Moni Heist was rolling and went right past Wonderwall Lindy and then caught the very game Dancin On The Wall by one length to win in 1:59 in the pouring rain.

It was the first MASS win of the year for Moni Heist ($15), who was bred and is owned by Moni Maker Stable. Domenico Cecere trains the winner. 

As the inclement weather continued, the fourth group to line up were the pacing fillies and Dudes Sweet Bet (Dudes The Man-Sweet Bettor) bounced back from a third-place finish last week to claim her second win in this series. 

Dudes Sweet Bet (John Macdonald) got away second behind Believe Its Lindy (Bruce Ranger) while Halleysbigcomet (Drew Campbell) was parked out to the quarter in :27.4. With nowhere to go but up, Campbell pushed on with Halleysbigcomet and got alongside Believe Its Lindy going to three-quarters as Dudes Sweet Bet continued to draft at the pylons. Shakeitoffscarlet (Kevin Switzer Jr.) joined the fray at the top of the stretch and a wall of horses, three across, began the trek down the lane leaving Dudes Sweet Bet still looking for racing room. That finally came when the pylon path came clear and Macdonald shot through with Dudes Sweet Bet who finished off the job by winning by 1-1/4 lengths in 1:56.1. 

Dudes Sweet Bet ($2.80) is owned by Sal Vullo, James De Armond and Chris Lems, who bred the horse along with Triple C Stables. 

All the updated points and earnings can be viewed on the Standardbred Owners of Massachusetts website and Facebook page.

The top point-getters from all the preliminary legs will move forward in eight $125,000 Massachusetts Sire Stakes finals during the Standardbred Owners of Massachusetts "Million Dollar Monday," Oct. 24. Post time for that card is 2 p.m. 

Live racing resumes at Plainridge Park at 2 p.m. on Tuesday afternoon (Oct. 18). Free full past performance race programs for all live race days can be downloaded by visiting the track's website and clicking the "Racing" tab.

(Standardbred Owners of Massachusetts)