The fields are set for the ninth edition of the Spirit of Massachusetts Trot and the Clara Barton Distaff Pace following post draws conducted on Wednesday, July 15.

Seven top trotters will line up for the $300,000 USD Grade 2 Spirit of Massachusetts on Sunday, July 19 during a 2 p.m. matinee at Plainridge Park.

Headlining the group is a powerful pair from the Ron Burke stable: Lexus Kody and Antognoni S. Lexus Kody (PP1), the reigning Dan Patch Trotter of the Year, won in a Meadowlands-track-record-tying 1:49.4 in his last start in the JL Cruze. Antognoni S (PP4) is undefeated in five starts in 2026 and on an eight-race win streak going back to last year.

In addition to Lexus Kody, three other millionaires will draw in. Defending Spirit of Massachusetts champion Up Your Deo, who finished second by a neck to that rival in the JL Cruze, has post six for trainer-driver Ake Svanstedt. Aetos Kronos S from the Marcus Melander stable, who finished third behind Lexus Kody and Up Your Deo, seeks his first seasonal win after hitting the board in his first four 2026 starts. The stallion took a mark of 1:49.4 at Woodbine Mohawk Park last year. Security Protected, to be driven by trainer Cory Stratton from post five, took two wins at Yonkers Raceway this season and resumes his campaign off a 1:53.2 winning qualifier at The Meadowlands following five weeks off.

The field also includes two more trotters who have already competed at Plainridge this year: Mitchell Cushing’s A New Leader (PP3) and Enrico Robinson’s Hey Porter (PP2).

The full field is below. 

$300,000 USD Spirit of Massachusetts Trot (G2)
Post - Horse - Driver - Trainer
1. Lexus Kody - Ronnie Wrenn Jr. - Ron Burke
2. Hey Porter - Brett Beckwith - Enrico Robinson
3. A New Leader - Mitchell Cushing - Mitchell Cushing
4. Antognoni S - Yannick Gingras - Ron Burke
5. Security Protected - Cory Stratton - Cory Stratton
6. Up Your Deo - Ake Svanstedt - Ake Svanstedt
7. Aetos Kronos S - Dexter Dunn - Marcus Melander

Wednesday’s draw also included the $150,000 USD Grade 3 Clara Barton Distaff Pace, with six classy mares set to clash.

The leading lady will once again be Chris Ryder’s decorated distaff Twin B Joe Fresh, whose most recent honour was the 2025 Dan Patch Award for Older Female Pacer. The 2024 U.S. Horse of the Year comes in on a roll following two 1:48.4 wins in her last three starts, the second while scoring her third straight Dorothy Haughton Memorial victory at The Meadowlands. Twin B Joe Fresh will be making her second straight start in the Barton, having finished third in last year's event. She drew post three.

Also in the race is Andrew Harris’ Unreasonable, who has been in hot pursuit of Twin B Joe Fresh in her last two starts. She finished third behind her in the Six Pack on June 4 and then second last week by a half-length in the Haughton while pacing home in :25.2. She will start from post four.

Ron Burke has two entries in the Barton: millionairess Rodeo Drive Deo (PP1), who has already won this year in 1:49.4, and Champagne Room (PP6), who has a seasonal mark of 1:50.3. Brett Pelling’s Rocket Deo (PP5), who won recently at Plainridge in 1:50.1, and Enrico Robinson’s Talk Curdy To Me (PP2), who took her seasonal mark of 1:50.3 at Plainridge last year and was closing in :25.3 in the Haughton, round out the field.

The full field is below:

$150,000 Clara Barton Distaff Pace (G3)
Post - Horse - Driver - Trainer
1. Rodeo Drive Deo - Yannick Gringras - Ron Burke
2. Talk Curdy To Me - Brett Beckwith - Enrico Robinson
3. Twin B Joe Fresh - Dexter Dunn - Chris Ryder
4. Unreasonable - Todd McCarthy - Andrew Harris
5. Rocket Deo - Tim Tetrick - Brett Pelling
6. Champagne Room - Tim Tetrick - Ron Burke

The Clara Barton Distaff Pace is programmed as the seventh race with an estimated post time of 4 p.m. The Spirit of Massachusetts Trot will follow in the eighth race with an estimated post time of 4:20 p.m.

(Plainridge Park)