The second preliminary for the $2.5 million (est.) Massachusetts Sire Stakes (MASS) convened at Plainridge Park on Sunday (Oct. 2) with four races for three-year-olds going for $65,000 each, and some winning horses came to play.
In the pacing filly division, Wolverina (Cheyenne Hollywood-Terri I Fra) won her second straight MASS engagement of 2022 by taking advantage of a perfect drive.
Nick Graffam tucked Wolverina second in behind Dudes Sweet Bet, who set a pace of :26.4, :55.4 and 1:23.3 with the field of nine stretched by 13 lengths. Wolverina continued to follow Dudes Sweet Bet until midway through the last turn when Graffam tipped along with Shakeitoffscarlet, and both engaged Dudes Sweet Bet. The three fillies were almost even across the track all the way down to the wire, where Wolverina got the clear advantage by a half length and won in a lifetime mark of 1:53.2.
It was the 10th straight win for Wolverina ($6.40 to win), who hasn't tasted defeat in 3-1/2 months going back to June 19. Wolverina was bred and is owned by her trainer Mike Graffam, in partnership with William Arnold.
Another streaking horse is Treacherous Tom (Captaintreacherous-Kate Is Well Said), who easily handled the boys in the male pacing division.
Treacherous Tom went right to the front and took control of the race. He set solid fractions of :27, :56 and 1:25 while the remainder of the field tried to keep pace. Heading for home, Treacherous Tom stretched to an easy 2-1/2-length lead and cruised to victory over Use Yah Blinkah and Striking Impact in 1:53.2.
It was the third straight win and eighth of the year in only 10 starts for Treacherous Tom ($2.20), who is owned by Tom and Scott Dillon, trained by Joe Nelson and was driven by Bruce Ranger. Fashion Farms bred the winner.
Both trotting winners were piloted by Yannick Gingras, who is again the leading driver in this year's series.
In the trotting filly division, Gingras piloted Dancin On The Wall (Walner-Lovely Lindy) to victory in a solid bounce-back after she made an uncharacteristic break last week.
Tennessee Lindy led at the quarter in :28.1 when Dancin On The Wall made a brush for the front. She got there in easy fashion and then dominated the rest of the way. With no threats coming from behind, Dancin On The Wall hit three-quarters in 1:26.4, rounded the last turn and simply trotted away from the field by three lengths in 1:56.1.
Dancin On The Wall ($2.40) got her third win of the year for breeder/owner K R Breeding. Domenico Cecere trains the winner.
Gingras followed that with a win behind last year’s two-year-old male trotting champion Bill Bauer (E L Titan-Miss Flaggy Meadow), who took his first step towards defending his title today.
Monis Heaven Sent sat on the lead early, but Bill Bauer took the lead in front of the stands and crossed over to the pylons by the half, and from there he won in hand. After passing three-quarters on top by 1-1/2 lengths, he rounded the turn and trotted home by the same margin in 1:56.3 under a line drive from Gingras.
Bill Bauer ($2.80) got his second win of the year for his trainer Paul Kelley, who co-owns the trotter with Joe Palillo and Ellen Palillo. East Pond Stable was the breeder.
Live racing resumes at Plainridge Park on Monday afternoon (Oct. 3) at 2 p.m. (EDT) and the card will feature the second two-year-old legs of the $2.5 million (est.) Massachusetts Sire Stakes in five divisions worth $260,000.
(Plainridge Park)