Courageous Warrior put on a show in the third leg of the Massachusetts Breeders Stakes for sophomores by scoring an upset win and setting several records as a result on Tuesday, Oct. 21 at Plainridge Park.
The Huntsville-Chief Karen gelding went gate-to-wire at 24-1 in the second $63,380 division for pacing colts and geldings.
Courageous Warrior (Matty Athearn) grabbed a quick lead but was hounded by Seafood Neighneigh (Bruce Ranger) through a vicious :26 quarter before the challenger dropped into the pocket nearing the half in :54.2. Courageous Warrior then opened up a five-length lead heading up the backstretch before Jon I Love Dat (Yannick Gingras) pulled from third and eventually caught up to be a close second at three-quarters in 1:21.3. Heading around the last turn, Jon I Love Dat continued to draft behind Courageous Warrior before pulling in the stretch, but he could not catch Courageous Warrior, who paced home clear on top by 2-1/2 lengths in 1:50.2. Jon I Love Dat finished second, followed by Rjs Red Devil (Matt Kakaley).
The time was a new lifetime mark for Courageous Warrior, set a new Massachusetts Breeders Stakes record for a three-year-old male pacer, and established him as the fastest three-year-old pacing gelding ever bred in Massachusetts.
Courageous Warrior ($50.80) is owned by Curran Racing LLC and Nickerson Racing LLC, who also bred the winner in partnership with Adam Michael. Jimmy Nickerson trains the gelding, who is now five-for-18 lifetime.
The first race of the day was the first $63,380 division of trotting fillies, and Tactical Moni extended her winning streak to five with an easy victory. Tactical Moni (Gingras) got away second behind Peach Cocktail (Athearn) but pulled just before the quarter in :28.1 to take command for good. After trotting to the half in :56.1 and three-quarters in 1:24.3, Tactical Moni bolted around the far turn and quickly pulled away to a 4-1/2-length win in 1:53.1. R Lady W (Kakaley) was second-best, with Peach Cocktail third.
Tactical Moni ($2.20) has now won three straight Massachusetts Breeders Stakes events and is nine-for-12 lifetime. Domenico Cecere trains the daughter of Tactical Landing-All Our Moni for owner/breeder Moni Maker Stable.
The next event was the first $63,380 division of pacing fillies, in which Beantown Deuce went gate-to-wire in a career-best clocking. She took no prisoners off the gate, going right to the front for Kakaley and clicking off sections of :27.3, :56.2, and 1:24.3 with Wassail Blue Chip (Gingras) following closely in the pocket. Halfway through the last turn, Wassail Blue Chip pulled to advance and engaged Beantown Deuce at the top of the stretch. But Beantown Deuce turned that challenge away and won by 1-1/4 lengths in 1:52.4. Cindys Faith (Ranger) was third.
Beantown Deuce ($3) is owned by Michael Goldberg Racing LLC, which also bred the filly in partnership with A Harris Racing LLC. The Huntsville-Dont Think Twice A filly won for the eighth time in 27 career outings for trainer George Ducharme.
Corner Store was another round-trip winner in the second $63,380 split for trotting fillies. Global Heritage (Gingras) battled with Corner Store (Brett Beckwith) through the first quarter, with Corner Store putting up the first panel of :27.3 as she took over. The top positions then remained the same past the half in :56.3 and three-quarters in 1:24.3 before Global Heritage vacated the pocket and tried to chase down Corner Store. The pair matched strides into deep stretch, but Corner Store never gave way and won by a neck in 1:53.2. All Of A Sudden (Steve Smith) completed the triactor.
Corner Store ($4.20) is trained by Paul Kelley and owned by Paul Kelley Racing Stable, Matthew Lamont, Ellen Palillo, and Leo Bauer. The daughter of Six Pack-Seven Eleven, bred by William Johnson, is now eight-for-19.
In the second $63,380 division of pacing fillies, Beantown Roberta pulled the 17-1 upset in her first win of the year. Beantown Roberta (Athearn) got away third as Seafood Cc (Gingras) led through fractions of :28 and :57.1. As the field headed to three-quarters in 1:25.3, Moneymakesherhappy (Beckwith) brushed to the lead, but then Treacherous Idol (Nick Graffam) paced alongside her around the last turn and forged ahead at the top of the stretch. But it was Beantown Roberta who shook loose in the middle of the stretch and paced home the best by a half-length in 1:56.2. Treacherous Idol was a game second, followed by Moneymakesherhappy.
Beantown Roberta ($37.20) took her second lifetime victory in 23 tries for owner-trainer Wil Dubois. The Papi Rob Hanover-Ace Of Pace filly was bred by Michael Goldberg Racing LLC.
Southpaw scored a dominant victory in the $63,380 first division for pacing males. He was an unchallenged leader and cut fractions of :28.2, :57.2, and 1:24.4 before a challenge finally came from Digging For Gold (Graffam), who pulled from third to try and challenge. Digging For Gold got to within 1-1/2 lengths of the leader at the top of the stretch, but that was as close as he'd get as Southpaw sealed the deal in 1:52.4 for driver Jimmy Whittemore. Digging For Gold finished second by 1-1/2 lengths, and Wyatt Earp (Ranger) was third.
Whittemore trains, owns, and bred Southpaw ($4.80), a son of American Ideal-Love You Bye. The gelding bolstered his record to nine-for-30 lifetime.
A single $105,634 division of trotting colts and geldings closed out the stakes action, with Te Quiero Lindy turning an early move into his second stakes win. He got away third for Tyler Miller before pulling out nearing the quarter in :27.4 to take the lead from Castel Lindy (Gingras). With Moni Man (Beckwith) sitting third, Te Quiero Lindy led the pack to the half in :56.4, three-quarters in 1:24.3, and then around the far turn for the second time. At the top of the stretch, Castel Lindy went on the attack and Moni Man tipped three-deep, both in chase of the leader, but Te Quiero Lindy would not relent and held them both off to win by a half-length in 1:55. Castel Lindy was second over Moni Man.
Te Quiero Lindy ($7.40) is owned by Andy Miller Stable Inc., Patrick Hoopes, and Lindy Farms of Connecticut, which also bred the winner. Julie Miller trains the son of Walner-Adios Lindy, who is now a seven-time winner in 25 career attempts.
The $1.2 million USD finals of the Massachusetts Breeders Stakes will be held at Plainridge on Thursday, Oct. 30.
Live racing will resume at Plainridge on Thursday, Oct. 23 at 2 p.m., and there will be a $1,308 carryover in the Wicked Hi-5 pentafecta in the sixth race.
(Standardbred Owners of Massachusetts)