There was $472,143 in purse money up for grabs on Tuesday, Oct. 6 as the $3.2 million USD (est.) Massachusetts Breeders Stakes continued the second week of action at Plainridge Park. Tuesday's card featured the three-year-old class of Massachusetts-breds in six divisions, two each for pacers of both genders, while the trotters had one race each.
Geologic tripped out to his second straight Massachusetts stakes win in a thrilling finish in the $113,571 division for male trotters and tied his own week-old stakes record.
Mothers Moni (Dexter Dunn) got away quickly and watched as Geologic (Yannick Gingras) dropped into the garden spot as they rolled past the quarter in :26.4. With Brewster Baker (Brad Irvine) trotting a close third, Mothers Moni reached the half in :55.3 and then moved onto the backstretch. Mothers Moni and Geologic started to pull away from the field going to three-quarters in 1:24.1, with Geologic sliding off the pegs to start his attack on the turn. Mothers Moni and Geologic matched strides down the lane until Geologic pulled ahead by 1-1/4 lengths and won in 1:52.2. Brewster Baker (Brad Irvine) was third.
Geologic ($2.40), trained by Paul Kelley, is owned by Paul Kelley Racing Stable, Go For Glory Stable LLC, Matthew Lamont and VIP Internet Stable LLC. Ray Campbell Jr. was the winning breeder of the Captain Corey-Crystalline gelding.
The first group of filly pacers kicked off the afternoon for $60,000, and Vaingloroious scored an impressive victory.
Ideal Lilly (Brett Beckwith) struck the front first and reached the quarter in :28, but Vainglorious (Dexter Dunn) was not content sitting third and bolted to the lead as they passed the stands. Vainglorious then set even fractions of :56.3 to the half and 1:24.2 to three-quarters as Ideal Lilly chased from the pocket and Daisy Dudes (Matthew Athearn) closed sharply on the outside into second. Vainglorious then extended away in the stretch and finished a wrapped-up 4-1/4-length winner in 1:52.2. Daisy Dudes finished second, followed by Ideal Lilly.
Vainglorious ($2.10) is trained and was bred by Tahnee Camilleri, who co-owns the filly with Bettors Delight-Bronskimackenzie A with David Kryway.
The second group of fillies vied for $60,571, with Two Twenty Swift making a repeat visit to the winner’s circle after a stakes victory.
Seafood Treasure (Bruce Ranger) got to the front in short order but was just as quickly challenged by Two Twenty Swift (Yannick Gingras) for the lead as they passed the quarter in :27.2. Two Twenty Swift set up shop on top and rationed out the speed from there with back-to-back :28.2 quarters, reaching the half in :55.4 and three-quarters in 1:24.1. As the field moved onto the far turn, Sweet Cindy Lou (Corey Callahan) was pressing in the breeze while Seafood Treasure was still following closely in the pocket. When the three horses turned for home, Two Twenty Swift edged away by 1-3/4 lengths and won in 1:51.4, home in :27.3. Sweet Cindy Lou finished second over Seafood Treasure.
Two Twenty Swift ($2.10) is owned by Donald MacRae and Beasty LLC and trained by Debbie Daguet. Ross Bonafield bred the daughter of Huntsville-Jag Out.
Hard To Forget went back-to-back in Massachusetts stakes competition as he took the $61,143 first division for males.
Hard To Forget (Yannick Gingras) got away fourth as Beantown Dragon (Brett Beckwith) led through splits of :27.3 and :56.1. Hard To Forget tipped out first-over and made his way to the lead as they passed three-quarters in 1:23.3. He extended his advantage into the lane but had to fend off a late-closing Mr Mctygue (Matty Athearn), which he did by 1-1/4 lengths as he stopped the clock in 1:51.4. Beantown Dragon was third.
Hard To Forget ($2.80), a son of American Ideal-Nota Fool Bluechip, is owned and was bred by Fiddler’s Creek Stables LLC and is trained by Travis Alexander.
The second colt group competed for $61,143, with Altair Blue Chip scoring in a career-best effort.
Alcatraz Blue Chip (Matty Athearn) shot to the lead and carried the group to the quarter in :27.3, but Dexter Dunn then sent Altair Blue Chip to the top in front of the stands, reaching the half in :55.1. Altair Blue Chip paced sharply to three-quarters in 1:23.3 as Beantown Miki (Corey Callahan) was challenging from the outside and Alcatraz Blue Chip continued to track from the pocket. As the field came off the turn and headed for home, Alcatraz Blue Chip found room on the pegs and made up ground quickly on the leader, but Altair Blue Chip would not relent and hung on to win by a half-length in 1:52.3. Alcatraz Blue Chip finished second, followed by Beantown Miki.
Altair Blue Chip ($2.80), by Lazarus N-Lilly Sweet Sue, is owned by Michael Miller, trained by Jimmy Whittemore and was bred by Blue Chip Bloodstock Inc.
The trotting fillies lined up for $115,714, and the George Ducharme-trained Cash Out Express made it two wins in a row while taking a new career mark.
Adios My Lindy (Brett Beckwith) led Lindy In My Dreams (Dexter Dunn) and Cash Out Express (Yannick Gingras) through fractions of :28 and :56.1 before the latter tipped out to move first-over. Cash Out Express made her way to second in the breeze at three-quarters in 1:24.3 and then matched strides with Adios My Lindy around the last turn. When they straightened for home, Cash Out Express turned away Adios My Lindy while also holding off Lindy In My Dreams to win by three-quarters of a length in 1:53.2. Adios My Lindy was third.
Cash Out Express ($3.20) is owned by George Ducharme Stable LLC, James DeArmond, Jim Winske and Sal Vullo. Lindy Farms of Connecticut bred the winning daughter of International Moni-Maliziosa Lindy.
Racing will resume at Plainridge Park on Thursday at 2 p.m.
(Standardbred Owners of Massachusetts; photo of Geologic winning on Oct. 6)