The culmination of one of the best stakes seasons ever at Plainridge Park will be on Thursday, Oct. 24 with the $1.28 million USD finals of the Massachusetts Breeders Stakes.
Eight divisions valued at $160,000 USD each will go postward in what looks to be some very competitive groupings.
The Massachusetts Breeders Stakes features one non-betting event at 1:45 p.m. and the remaining seven contests are programmed as races one, three, five, six, seven, eight and 10. Post time for the first race is 2 p.m.
Here is a quick look at the early favourites in each division:
Two-Year-Old Colt & Gelding Pace
Digging For Gold (Huntsville-Gold Orchid N) has won three consecutive Massachusetts Breeders Stakes since coming to Plainridge and set both new stakes and track records in the process. Digging For Gold has won seven out of 10 overall starts this year after a very successful run in the New York Sire Stakes Excelsior Series over the summer.
Post: Four / Trainer: George Ducharme / Driver: Nick Graffam
Two-Year-Old Filly Pace
Its Crunch Time (Captain Crunch-Meghan Lynn) is two of three in Massachusetts Breeders Stakes action with one of her wins by a whopping 16 lengths. The one race she lost was due to an untimely break after getting the lead at three-quarters and she did recover to finish third, only 2-1/2 lengths behind.
Post: One / Trainer: Ron Burke / Driver: Yannick Gingras
Two-Year-Old Colt & Gelding Trot
Belmondo (Walner-Love Lockdown) won his last two consecutive Massachusetts Breeders Stakes outings, took a lifetime mark and set a track and stakes record with his 1:55 romp on Oct. 1. He has won handily after his initial start at Plainridge and comes into this race at the top of his game.
Post: Four / Trainer: Julie Miller / Driver: Marcus Miller
Two-Year-Old Filly Trot
R Lady W (Walner-Born Lindy) has made quite an impression since coming to Massachusetts. She won both preliminary Breeders Stakes divisions she competed in, while taking a new lifetime mark and tying the stakes and track record with her 1:56.1 effort on Oct. 1. She has to beat a full field this week and that will be her challenge.
Post: Six / Trainer: Linda Toscano / Driver: Scott Zeron
Three-Year-Old Colt & Gelding Pace
Rocknroll Lou (Sweet Lou-Beautiful Lady) was the Massachusetts Breeders Stakes champion at two and seems to have the inside track to repeat this year. Besides winning all three of his stakes legs coming in, Rocknroll Lou also rewrote the stakes record on Sept. 30 with his career-best clocking of 1:51.1.
Post: Four / Trainer: Ron Burke / Driver: Yannick Gingras
Three-Year-Old Filly Pace
Every Mans Dream (Always B Miki-Lindys Nightmare) was also the Massachusetts Breeders Stakes champion at two and hasn’t even been close to being beaten in 2024. In her three straight Breeders Stakes wins this year, Every Mans Dream has won by a combined 19-1/4 lengths and has also set a new stakes record of 1:52.4 with her win on Sept. 30.
Post: Six / Trainer: Ron Burke / Driver: Yannick Gingras
Three-Year-Old Colt & Gelding Trot
Keep Asking (Chapter Seven-Sensibility) is another Massachusetts Breeders Stakes champion from last year and is looking very much the part of a repeat so far. He has won two of his three Breeders Stakes starts in 2024 and was a strong front-end performer in both of those. This is also the second year he has found success in the New York Sire Stakes.
Post: Seven / Trainer: George Ducharme / Driver: Scott Zeron
Three-Year-Old Filly Trot
Treatyofversaille (International Moni-Birthright) has won five of her last six starts and that includes two Massachusetts Breeders Stakes in her two most recent outings. Her 1:53.4 mile on Sept. 30 was a new stakes record and she looked impressive setting it. Despite drawing post seven, Treatyofversaille looks to be the one to beat.
Post: 7 / Trainer: Domenico Cecere / Driver: Bruce Ranger
These stakes finals are just one-half of a big two-day celebration at Plainridge Park. On Friday, Oct. 25, Plainridge Park will host an event called "Men Wear Pink: A Sulky Social," which is a fundraiser for the prevention and eventual cure of breast cancer held in conjunction with the American Cancer Society and Men Wear Pink of Boston. For more information on the event, click here.
(With files from Standardbred Owners of Massachusetts; Photo of Every Mans Dream from a previous win)