Grand Circuit racing returned to Plainridge Park for a record-setting day on Monday afternoon, Oct. 7 with the main events being the Colonial Oaks for three-year-old trotting fillies and the W. N. Reynolds Memorial Stakes for three-year-old pacers.
The day kicked off with the $71,757 Colonial Oaks for three-year-old trotting fillies and Elista Hanover (pictured above) was the first to make history.
Driver David Miller settled Elista Hanover in fourth off the gate as Sister Mary Maude (Yannick Gingras) was busy leading the way to the quarter in :28.2 over the wet but fast track. However, Miller had Elista Hanover out and rolling and took control of the race before the half in :56.1. Positions remained basically unchanged to the three-quarters in 1:24.3 and around the last turn, but at the top of the stretch, it got interesting. Gingras tipped Sister Mary Maude out and the filly was making up ground on Elista Hanover with every stride. The two sprinted to the line in close quarters but Elista Hanover was the best by a neck in 1:53. Happy Chopper (Brett Beckwith) rounded out the top three nearly four lengths behind.
Elista Hanover's winning time set a new track record for three-year-old trotting fillies and also a new stakes record for the Colonial Oaks at Plainridge Park.
The win was the 12th of the year in 16 starts for Elista Hanover (International Moni-Evermore), who is owned by R Curry, Philomena Curry and trainer Annie Stoebe. Elista Hanover was bred by the Hanover Shoe Farms.
Back in action after winning the Pennsylvania Sire Stakes championship nearly a month ago, Elista Hanover paid $2.20 to win as the overwhelming favourite.
Next up were two $67,399 divisions of the W. N. Reynolds Memorial Stakes, the Tar Heel, for three-year-old pacing colts and geldings.
In the first division, more records were set, and by two horses as Howlenthehills and Solid Character finished in a dead-heat for the win.
Solid Character and Yannick Gingras took the first lead but Howlenthehills and Matt Kakaley brushed up from second to grab the top spot in a quick :26.4. With Armada Hanover (Matty Athearn) tracking the leaders from third, Howlenthehills got to the half in :55.1 and three-quarters in 1:22.4 unchallenged. After they came off the last turn, Howlenthehills had opened up a two-length advantage and was looking like a winner. But Gingras tipped Solid Character and asked his charge for more. Solid Character delivered as he flew down the lane and caught Howlenthehills in the shadow of the wire as they both crossed at the same time in 1:50.3. Armada Hanover finished two lengths behind in third.
The time of the mile was a new track record for three-year-old pacing geldings and also a new stakes record for the Tar Heel at Plainridge Park.
Howlenthehills (American Ideal-Arielle Lynn), who is trained by Travis Alexander and owned by Symmetry Stables, improved his seasonal record to 13-for-15 while Solid Character (Sweet Lou-Riley Character) earned his sixth win in 14 starts this year for trainer Ron Burke and owners Burke Racing Stable, Robert Jackson, Timothy Sullivan and Tom Wilson. The former was bred by Crawford Farms and the latter by Winterwood Farm. The winners both paid $2.10.
In the second split, the pair of records just set by the first group went down hard as another Alexander trainee, Sweet Beach Life, went the mile of his career for an easy victory.
Matt Kakaley wasted no time getting Sweet Beach Life to the front and dominated once he crossed over. After setting fast and unchallenged fractions of :26.3, :54.4 and 1:22.3, Sweet Beach Life swelled up at the top of the lane and bolted home under Kakaley wraps by 5-1/4 lengths in 1:49.3. Copperfield (Yannick Gingras) edged out Maxim Hanover (Brett Beckwith) in the race for place.
Sweet Beach Life's winning time eclipsed the aforementioned track record for three-year-old pacing geldings and new stakes record for the Tar Heel at Plainridge Park.
The win was the sixth of the year in 20 starts for Sweet Beach Life, a Sweet Lou-Life Is A Beach gelding bred by Sergeant Stables and owned by A Sweet Beach Life Stable. The Messenger Stakes winner and Pennsylvania champion paid just $2.20 to win as the popular pick.
The Grand Circuit closer on Monday was the $83,987 W. N. Reynolds Memorial Stakes, the Leta Long, for three-year-old pacing fillies and Ponynamedwildfire went the mile of her life to established a stakes record for the event at Plainridge.
Bruce Ranger flew off the wings with Ponynamedwildfire and set a quick quarter pace of :26 flat. But that wasn't fast enough for Leannes Choice (Marcus Miller), who pulled from second to take the lead before the :53.4 half. There was no rest for the leader as favourite So Well Dressed (David Miller) was on the attack and took the lead on the backstretch. But as soon as she cleared, Chiapanecas (Yannick Gingras) was at her bridle pressing hard at the third quarter mark in 1:21.1 and Ponynamedwildfire was right on her back. When the field entered the stretch, the battling front-runners were collectively tiring and Ranger had a fresh horse. He tipped Ponynamedwildfire three-deep and the filly paced home the best by 1-1/2 lengths in 1:51. Chiapanecas was second while Fight Not Flight (Matt Kakaley) closed for third.
Ponynamedwildfire (Huntsville-Worldly Treasure) earned her sixth win of the season from 14 starts for trained Ray Schnittker and owner/breeder Steve Jones. She paid $8.20 to win as the 3-1 second choice.
Harness racing resumes at Plainridge Park on Tuesday, Oct. 8 at 2 p.m.
(With files from Plainridge Park)