The $3 million Massachusetts Sire Stakes (MASS) got underway at Plainridge Park on Monday (Sept. 25) and visiting drivers Yannick Gingras and Scott Zeron both had hat tricks, driving three winners apiece out of the eight MASS divisions that went postward. And it's noteworthy that those divisional winners were sent behind the gate by eight different trainers.

All races for both genders went in two divisions Monday due to the number of entries and each carried a purse of $40,000. The day-long rain had the track listed as “wet-fast” and it turned out some very impressive performances. 

Gingras won both divisions for male pacers starting with last year’s two-year-old champion Rooster Bennett (So Surreal-Teddy Ballgirl), who put in a very strong performance going gate to wire. Gingras had Rooster Bennett on top by two lengths almost the entire mile and defeated the pocket-sitting So Rock N Roll (Kevin Switzer Jr.) by one-half length in 1:54. Rooster Bennett ($2.10) is owned and bred by Nancy Longobardi and Dominick Longobardi. Nancy Longobardi also trains the winner

Gingras added wins with the pacing colt Colt Bennett and filly trotter The Wise One. Gingras also had an overnight win to give him a grand slam for the afternoon. 

Owned by Nancy Longobardi and trained by David Crochere, Colt Bennett (Rock N Roll World-Unbleachable) was a 1:55.2 winner in his division, paying $11.40 to win. The colt was bred by Steve O’Toole.

Name: The Wise One (Muscle Hill-Grandmas Moni) was a popular $2.10 winner, scoring in 1:57.2 for trainer Domenico Cecere and owner/breeder Moni Maker Stable.

Scott Zeron's three wins were topped by a big effort from pacing filly Azariya (Lazarus N-Lainey Deo), who drafted along third behind My Sweet Kate (Matty Athearn) until the top of the stretch. There, Zeron tipped her three-wise and tracked down the leader and then fought off Seafood Beauty (Jay Randall) in deep stretch to win by a neck in a lifetime-best 1:53.2. Azariya ($13) is owned and trained by Duane Marfisi. Deo Volente Farm bred Azariya. 

Zeron’s other two wins came behind the trotting geldings Walters Keepsake and Wallop.  

Al Ross's homebred Walters Keepsake (Walner-Alabama Keepsake) prevailed in 1:56.4 a non-betting division for conditioner
George Ducharme while the Melissa Beckwith-trained Wallop (Walner-Love N Lindy) streaked to a 1:58.2 triumph for Thestable Wallop Group
The latter gelding, bred by K R Breeding, returned $5.40 to win.

Another defending two-year-old Massachusetts champion well on her way to another crown is Dame (Dudes The Man-Seat By The Window), who simply dominated her sister pacing fillies. Jim Hardy put Dame on the point and she did the rest after that. As she set fractions of :28, :57.3 and 1:26, Dame also extended her lead from one length at the quarter to three lengths at the top of the stretch. Then, Dame bolted home easily to win by 5-1/2 in 1:53.1, which was only one-fifth off her lifetime mark. Dame ($2.10) is trained by Jolene Andrews for owner/breeder Stephen Richard. 

Another solid win with lifetime mark came from Way Off Broadway (E L Titan-Black Broadway), who also dominated her division of trotting fillies. Troy Beyer sent Way Off Broadway to an easy lead and then rationed out her speed from there going quarters in :28, :57.3 and 1:26.4 with Laurens Hoopla (Scott Zeron) following right on her back. At the top of the stretch, Way Off Broadway opened up a two-length advantage and won handily in 1:55.3, taking a new personal best. Way Off Broadway ($15.20) is owned and bred by Mike Eaton and Bob McHugh. Eaton also trains the winner. 

Live racing will resume at Plainridge Park on Tuesday, Sept. 26 at 2 p.m. when the two-year-olds will line up for their first swing at the 2023 Massachusetts Sire Stakes. Also, there will be a $10,419 carryover in the Wicked Hi-5 pentafecta wager in race six.

(With files from Standardbred Owners of Massachusetts)