The $1.78 million finals of the Massachusetts Breeders Stakes was held on Thursday, Oct. 24 at Plainridge Park and records of all sorts were rewritten throughout the afternoon program. Four stakes and two track records as well as four lifetime marks were either tied or broken during the stakes divisions that were contested for $222,222 each.
Quick notes from the afternoon show that Yannick Gingras was the leading driver with three stakes wins, seven different trainers each won one stakes race apiece and Lindy Farms of Connecticut bred five of the seven 2024 Massachusetts Breeders Stakes (MBS) champions.
In the non-betting three-year-old filly pace, Every Mans Dream (pictured above) became a two-time Massachusetts champion after she destroyed the field in a record mile.
Yannick Gingras eased the daughter of Always B Miki-Lindys Nightmare to the front and cut quarters of :27, :55.2 and 1:23.2 while Beantown Ace (Nick Graffam) followed in the pocket. As they entered the last turn, Every Mans Dream and Beantown Ace had separated themselves from the rest of the field. But then Every Mans Dream pulled away from Beantown Ace and flew home in a swift :27 flat final panel to win by 11-3/4 lengths in 1:50.2.
The time tied the lifetime mark of Every Mans Dream, tied the track record and set a new stakes record for three-year-old pacing fillies, breaking what she just set earlier this month.
Every Mans Dream is owned by Thomas and Scott Dillon and trained by Ron Burke. Lindy Farms of Connecticut bred Every Mans Dream.
The two-year-old colt and gelding trot went to current track record holder Belmondo (Walner-Love lockdown) who brushed late to a convincing victory.
Moni Man (Brett Beckwith) took the lead and was followed by Castel Lindy (Yannick Gingras), Belmondo (Marcus Miller) and the remainder of the field through consistent quarters of :27.1, :56.2 and 1:26.4, with nobody pulling the right line. But as Moni Man headed into the turn, Gingras engaged Castel Lindy and Miller tipped Belmondo three-deep, and that top trio entered the stretch in a line across track. But it became quickly evident that Belmondo was full of trot and pulled away from the field before holding off a late closing My Degenerate (Andy Miller) to win by three-quarters of a length in 1:55.3.
It was the third straight MASS Breeders Stakes win for Belmondo ($2.60) and owners Andy Miller Stable, One Legend Stable and Jean Goehlen. Julie Miller trains the winner, Belmondo and the place finisher My Degenerate. Belmondo was bred by Lindy Farms of Connecticut.
There was a major upset in the three-year-old trot for colts and geldings when Pepper Wow (Crazy Wow-Tori Hall) tripped-out to victory at 22-1.
The favoured Keep Asking (Scott Zeron) took the lead as Pepper Wow (Yannick Gingras) tracked intently from second as Keep Asking set fractions of :27.2, :56 and 1:24.4 with only a mild bid from International Law (Marcus Miller) at three-quarters to contend with. Keep Asking rounded the last turn looking strong, but at the top of the lane, Gingras popped the deuce with Pepper Wow and powered by Keep Asking to win by three-quarters of a length at the light in 1:53.3.
The time was a new lifetime mark for Pepper Wow and equaled the stakes record for three-year-old trotting colts as well.
It was the sixth win of the year, but first MBS victory of 2024 for Pepper Wow ($46.00) who is owned and bred by Earl and Kathy Beaman in partnership with co-owner Shirley Michaud. Ivan Davies is the winning trainer.
The two-year-old trotting fillies saw more records fall when R Lady W (Walner-Born Lindy) put in a dominating front-end performance.
Scott Zeron sent R Lady W for the lead and never looked back once crossing over. With Riviera Princess (Yannick Gingras) sitting the trip, R Lady W stepped off quarters of :27.3, :57 and 1:26.3 completely unchallenged. From there, R Lady W really turned it on and trotted her last quarter in :27.4 while pulling away by 5-1/2 lengths in a 1:54.2 performance.
The time was a career best for R Lady W and also set new track and stakes records for two-year-old trotting fillies.
R Lady W ($2.20) is leased by M&L of Delaware and trained by Linda Toscano. Lindy Farms of Connecticut bred R Lady W.
The second upset of the day came in the three-year-old colt and gelding pace where Oer The Ramparts (American Ideal-See To Believe) got up in the shadow of the wire at 17-1.
Favoured Rocknroll Lou (Yannick Gingras) methodically made his way to the front while Oer The Ramparts (Brett Beckwith) was happy to take the trip. Rocknroll Lou glided to the half in :55 and three-quarters in 1:23.1 with only a mild bid from Bang Ah Uey (Jimmy Hardy) at that last station. Rocknroll Lou took his short lead into the stretch, where Beckwith tipped Oer The Ramparts and took dead aim on the leader. These two pacers were all out in the lane, but Oer The Ramparts had a little more in the tank and got up at the last moment to win by a neck in a lifetime best, 1:52.
It was the sixth win of the year, but first in the MBS for Oer The Ramparts ($36.20) who is owned by Glenn Goller and Stephen Demeter and trained by Mark Beckwith. Oer The Ramparts was bred by Lindy Farms of Connecticut.
The three-year-old trotting filly final went to the current stakes record holder Treatyofversaille (International Moni-Birthright) who captured her third consecutive stakes victory on Thursday.
Treatyofversaille (Bruce Ranger) got away third as Sassy Zaza (Brett Beckwith) cut the quarter in :28.2. But Ranger was out and rolling early and put Treatyofversaille on the point before the :58.1 half. From there, Treatyofversaille fought off Dawn Of Lindy (Yannick Gingras) at three-quarters, turned for home and then held the tripping Sassy Zaza at bay late to win by 1-1/4 lengths in 1:55.4.
It was the sixth win of the year for Treatyofversaille ($3.60) who is owned and bred by Lindy Farms of Connecticut and trained by Domenico Cecere.
Another stakes record fell in the two-year-old colt and gelding pace where Jon I Love Dat (Downbytheseaside-Franney Love Dat) was never headed as he claimed the crown.
Yannick Gingras took control easily from post one with Jon I Love Dat and had Digging For Gold (Nick Graffam) shadow him from the garden spot. Jon I Love Dat paced smartly on the lead through quarters of :26.4, :55.4 and 1:24.3 with Digging For Gold breathing down his back. When they turned for home, Digging For Gold pulled to advance, but Jon I Love Dat just paced away from him and to a 2-1/2 length victory in 1:52.3, setting a new stakes record for two-year-old pacing colts.
Jon I Love Dat ($6.20) is owned and bred by Robert Lovett and trained by Chuck Connor Jr.
The two-year-old pacing filly final was declared a “no contest” after Its Crunch Time made a mis-step and fell in the first turn, causing interference to the trailing horses. All wagers on the race were refunded.
The horses and drivers involved were checked out and okay after the race and the purse money will be distributed according to USTA Rule 13.05 (e) 1, concerning No Contest races.
Racing resumes at Plainridge Park on Friday, Oct. 25 at 2 p.m. and there will be a $10,598 carryover in the Wicked Hi-5 pentafecta in race six. Friday is also the Men Wear Pink Sulky Social to raise funds for breast cancer research.
(Standardbred Owners of Massachusetts)