Plainridge Park hosted the $800,000 Massachusetts Sire Stakes finals on Monday afternoon with eight divisions vying for $100,000 each. A steady morning rain and sloppy track conditions greeted the day’s participants however that didn’t detract from the performances put in by the horses on the track and provided some lucrative payouts for the betting faithful.
As expected Yannick Gingras had a big day, winning three of the four three-year-old divisions. However drivers Nick Graffam and Drew Monti also put in stellar efforts winning two races apiece. Owner William Varney found himself in the winner's circle two times as did horses bred by Moni Maker Stable. And despite the inclement weather, four horses turned in lifetime best performances.
Two races were non-betting and held prior to the pari-mutuel card which got underway at 2 p.m.
The first non-betting event was for three-year-old trotting fillies and Moni For Lindy (Credit Winner-Live Moni) delivered as expected.
Me Too Baby (Jim Pantaleano) held pylon position off the gate and strung out the field in a :28.2 first quarter. But Moni For Lindy (Yannick Gingras), who got away third, was already out and moving and took the lead as the race passed the stands. Moni For Lindy opened up a two length advantage heading up the backside and put the field away as she trotted a brisk :28.3 third quarter. Now up by five into the last turn, Moni For Lindy cruised home by 10-3/4 lengths in 1:56.1.
Moni For Lindy swept her division, winning four of four straight outings in the stake. Trained by Domenico Cecere, Moni For Lindy also boosted her earnings to $351,377 this year for owner Greathorse on the strength of her ninth win of 2021. Moni Maker Stable bred Moni For Lindy.
Then in the second non-betting event for three-year-old trotting colts, Incommunicado (Chapter Seven-Gran Cavalla) also made it four in a row en route to becoming a two-time Massachusetts Sire Stake champion.
Incommunicado (Yannick Gingras) left and got the lead before Twoscoopsforjack (Kevin Switzer, Jr.) circled from post eight and grabbed the front by the :28.4 quarter. However not content to sit, Gingras was out and rolling at that point and from there never looked back. Incommunicado took the lead and started to gap the field by the half. He opened up five lengths at three-quarters in 1:27, circled the last turn all alone and flew home on top by 11-1/2 lengths in 1:57.2.
The Ake Svanstedt-trained Incommunicado has now amassed $240,015 in purses this year while registering six wins for owners Knutsson Trotting, Little E, Arthur Geiger and David Stolz. Moni Maker Stable also bred Incommunicado.
The two-year-old trotting fillies was a very competitive race with longshot Tennessee Lindy (Muscle Hill-Nashville Lindy) going from last to first in a thrilling stretch drive.
Just Liv Broadway (Steve Smith) and Dancin On The Wall (Yannick Gingras) traded leads in a spirited :28 first panel. Dancin On The Wall finally settled on the front and never really got a breather as an outer flow was already coming at her. Grateful Express (Drew Campbell) and Moni Heist (Bruce Ranger) were pressing on the outside while Wonderwall Lindy (Jay Randall) and Tennessee Lindy (Nick Graffam) were right behind in the breeze. With the entire field now with a shot at the win, Wonderwall Lindy tipped and Tennessee Lindy tipped around her and the two trotted together away from the field. The stablemates hit the wire side by side with Tennessee Lindy getting the nod by a neck in 1:58.4, which tied her lifetime mark.
Tennessee Lindy ($19.80) got her second MASS win and claimed the two-year-old trotting filly crown for owner FTM Racing Stable and trainer George Ducharme. K R Breeding bred Tennessee Lindy.
The prices continued to come in the two-year-old trotting colt division when Bill Bauer (E L Titan-Miss Flaggy Meadow) upset at 9-1 and got his first lifetime victory.
When the gate released the field, Bill Bauer (Drew Monti) took the lead while the heavily favoured Wallet (Nick Graffam) made an unfortunate break shortly after the start, followed by Strongerwithlindy (Steve Smith) who also ran before the quarter. With the complexion of the race completely changed, Monti grabbed leather and backed off the half to :59.3 while RFLs Super Sonic (Jim Hardy) and Threeonthetree (Mike Stevenson) tried to keep pace. But as the race went on, Bill Bauer was getting stronger and opened up five lengths around the last turn. When they turned for home, Monti sat chilly as Bill Bauer closed it out on his own, winning by 8-¾ lengths in a lifetime best time of 1:57.4.
Bill Bauer ($20.80) is now a Massachusetts Sire Stake champion for owner/trainer Paul Kelley. Bill Bauer was bred by East Pond Stable.
The two-year-old pacing colts division was won by Striking Impact (Always B Miki-Aunt Caroline) who turned a pocket trip into a championship win.
Takechargebluechip (Bruce Ranger) was the commander of fractions from the start with Striking Impact (Drew Monti) and Use Yah Blinkah (Jim Hardy) following in line. After fractions of :27.1, :57.3 and 1:26.1, Galactic Storm (Jimmy Whittemore) was rolling first over and advanced to second on the outside heading into the stretch. As they moved to the wire, Galactic Storm stalled and Monti was able to get Striking Impact free from the box. When he cleared, Striking Impact shifted gears and blew by Takechargebluechip to win by a length in a new lifetime mark of 1:56.1.
Striking Impact ($4.00) is owned by Fox Racing and is trained by Jimmy Nickerson. Lindy Farms of Connecticut bred Striking Impact.
There was another upset in the two-year-old pacing filly event when Pembroke Legacy (Baron Biltmore-Pembroke Oasis) rallied from way back to catch the co-favourites in deep stretch.
So Flo (Frank Affrunti) and Wolverina (Nick Graffam) -- who both went off at 2-1 -- sat first and second from the quarter pole. With the field moving single file, they went to the half in :55.4 and three-quarters in 1:24.2, where Dudes Sweet Bet (Shawn Gray) was pressing on the outside. At that point Pembroke Legacy (Heath Campbell) was still sixth and looked pretty much out of it. But when the group started to tighten in the last turn, Pembroke Legacy was finding her best foot and was moving two wide around the curve. At the top of the straight Campbell swung Pembroke Legacy five-wide and came barrelling down the lane to win by three-quarters of a length in 1:55.1, which was a new lifetime mark for the winner.
Pembroke Legacy ($29.60) got her sixth win of the year and is now a MASS champion for owner/breeder William Varney and trainer Valerie Grondin.
The three-year-old pacing colts were scratched down to a field of six and Mullinax (American Ideal-Up Front Kellie Jo) claimed his second straight MASS championship, but not without a fight.
Mullinax (Yannick Gingras) took a quick lead but Call Me Maverick (Mike Stevenson) came at him hard and pushed a :27.1 quarter. Call Me Maverick seated second and Mullinax then backed the half down to :57. When the group made its way to three-quarters, Bumpah Stickah (Jimmy Hardy) pulled from third and started to advance. He got to within a length around the last turn but continued to gain ground heading into the stretch. Now under full assault, Mullinax dug in and fought back against Bumpah Stickah, who still was gaining ground with every stride. But when they hit the line, Mullinax stood firm and held on to win by a head in 1:53.3.
Mullinax ($2.10) swept the series and pushed his earnings to $224,547 for owner William Varney. Mark Ford, who trains the winner, also bred him along with Ed Mullinax.
The final event of the day was the three-year-old pacing fillies and Purameri (American Ideal-J K Pure Pearl) became the third repeat MASS champion of the day after her victory.
Suzie Blue Chip (Drew Campbell) outpaced So Amazing (Bruce Ranger) for the lead while Purameri (Nick Graffam) floated from post eight and dropped in fifth in fast early fractions of :26.3 and :55.4. As the race moved towards three-quarters, Rightfully Mine (Yannick Gingras) moved first-over towards the leader and Purameri followed as the field began to bunch. As Suzie Blue Chip, So Amazing and Rightfully Mine were within a length of each other in the last turn, Nick Graffam tipped Purameri three-wide and circled them all to take the lead at the top of the stretch and pace sharply to 1-1/2 length victory in 1:53.1.
The third win of the year for Purameri ($10.20) pushed her lifetime bank to $209,647 for owner Purple Haze Stable. Jessica Okusko trains the filly bred by 3 Brothers Stables and Camelot Stable.
(Standardbred Owners of Massachusetts)