With perfect fall weather and a lightning fast track greeting the contestants at Plainridge Park on Sunday (Oct. 16), stakes and track records along with lifetime marks were the order of the day as the third leg of the $2.56 million Massachusetts Sire Stakes (MASS) for two-year-old eligibles was held.
The trotting fillies were split into two $32,500 races while the remaining three divisions each went one for $65,000 apiece.
The first filly trot went to Milliondollarwall (Walner-Moms Millionaire), who claimed her third straight MASS win.
Get The Picture left from pylon position and set fractions of :29, :58.3 and 1:27.4 while Milliondollarwall sat in the pocket waiting to pounce, and that happened at the top of the far turn. Milliondollarwall engaged Get The Picture heading into the stretch and had a hard time getting separation from her gutsy rival. But just before the wire, Milliondollarwall finally got the advantage and won by three-quarter lengths in 1:57.2.
It was the fourth win in only five starts for the heavily favoured Milliondollarwall, who is owned and bred by Moni Maker Stable. Yannick Gingras drove the $2.10 winner for trainer Domenico Cecere.
The second group of trotting girls were bested by Laurens Hoopla (E L Titan-Tattoo You), who won her second consecutive MASS.
Nick Graffam went right for the lead from post four with Laurens Hoopla as Pembroke Moni, who also left, dropped into the garden spot. When the race reached the half in :56.3 the top two had gapped from the field with only the Wise One staying close. Positions remained unchanged until the seven-eighths pole where Yannick Gingras pulled Pembroke Moni and tried to overtake Laurens Hoopla. Although she gained ground with every stride, Pembroke Moni could not get past Laurens Hoopla who hit the line on top by a neck in 1:56.3.
Laurens Hoopla was bred and is owned by Ray Campbell Jr. and is trained by George Ducharme. She paid $4.60 to win.
Inter Mischief (International Moni-Blinded By Lindy) had a big day winning the trot for two-year-old trotting colts and geldings and broke several records in the process.
Inter Mischief (pictured above) took the early lead but yielded it to Yo Lucky Moni past the speedy :27.4 quarter. It was there that the favoured Te Amo Lindy made a break and that changed the complexion of the race. Yo Lucky Moni then backed off the half to :58.4 and headed up the backstretch, seemingly in complete control. However in the far turn, Kevin Switzer Jr. tipped Inter Mischief and got his colt in gear. He got up alongside Yo Lucky Moni and the two trotted together all the way to the wire with Inter Mischief getting the advantage by three-quarter lengths to win in 1:55.4.
The time was a lifetime mark for the winner and it also broke the MASS and Plainridge track records for two-year-old trotting colts. It was the second stakes win for Inter Mischief and owners Frank Chic and Jamie Lee Sullivan, who also trains the record setter. Inter Mischief was bred by K R Breeding. She paid $4.80 to win.
The pacing fillies had a field of eight go to post and Dame (Dudes The Man-Seat By The Window) exerted her muscle to take her second straight victory.
Jimmy Hardy pushed Dame off the gate but Seafood Beauty who had pylon position played hardball and would not release the leaver. It wasn't until past the :27 quarter that Dame took control and crossed over. Once on the point, Dame went to the half in :56.4 and three-quarters in 1:25.3 as Seafood Beauty tried to stay close. But close was not good enough as Dame paced away to a 3-1/4-length lead down the stretch and won in a lifetime best time of 1:54.2.
Dame was bred and is owned by Stephen Richard. Jolene Andrews trains the $3 winner.
Finally it was a full field of nine pacing colts and geldings that aligned with Luke McGook getting up late for a win and a new mark.
Kevin Switzer Jr. put Luke McGook on the point after a battle with Good Will Lindy and then took the field to the quarter in :27.1. However, his stablemate So Rock N Roll was out and rolling early and took the lead from him in front of the grandstand.
As they headed into the second half, Rooster Bennett moved first over from fourth and got within close proximity of So Rock N Roll. These two went at it around the last turn while Luke McGook drafted behind, waiting for an opening. That came halfway down the stretch when the pylon lane opened up as So Rock M Roll was fighting off Rooster Bennett. Switzer guided Luke McGook through the gap and shot to the front by a half length at the light and won in 1:54.1.
The time was a lifetime mark for the winner and also tied the Plainridge track record for two-year-old pacing geldings.
It was the eighth win of the year for Luke McGook who is owned by Leighton Properties and trained by Marc Tardif. Erica Saucier bred the $9.80 winner.
Switzer was the leading driver on Sunday winning three races during the afternoon.
Live racing resumes at Plainridge Park at 2 p.m. (EDT) on Monday afternoon (Oct. 17) when the third leg of the $2.56 million Massachusetts Sire Stakes for three-year-olds gets back on the track.
(Plainridge Park)