While making only the second start of his career, Jonas K S put in an overpowering performance and set a new track record for three-year-old trotting colts after winning the inaugural $100,000 Battle of Bunker Hill Trot at Plainridge Park on Monday afternoon.
Driver Kevin Switzer, Jr. left sharply with Jonas K S and kept post time favourite S I P (Yannick Gingras) in the pocket as they hit the quarter in :27. After rolling past that station, Gingras tipped S I P and tried to advance but Jonas K S trotted on and put him back in the hole. The group hit the half in :55.1 when Wily Wally (Bruce Ranger) pulled from third and tried to push the issue.
Jonas K S maintained his 1-1/2 length lead up the backstretch and to the three-quarters in 1:23.3 while Wily Wally hung outside and S I P waited in the pocket to make his bid at the top of the stretch. But when Gingras tipped S I P as they hit the stretch, he made a break and Jonas K S was home free. He motored down the lane to the wire on top by 12-1/2 lengths and took a new lifetime mark, as well as the track record, with a 1:53 clocking.
"He's a very nice horse. They said he was a little lazy so I scored him down pretty good and put him right on the gate and gave him a shot. When S I P came at him past the quarter he was pretty grabby so I just kept him rolling and hoped for the best," said Kevin Switzer. "Even if S I P didn't break at the head of the stretch, I don't think he would have beaten my horse. I think the only way he'd have lost today is if he beat himself. That was a heck of a mile."
Jonas K S is now a perfect two for two lifetime with $56,000 earned for owners Knutsson Trotting (who also bred the winner), Little E and Stall Kalmar. Ake Svanstedt trains the son of Centurion ATM-Crown Classic who paid $8.60 to win.
The Grand Circuit will make one more stop at Plainridge Park this year on Sunday (July 24) for the $250,000 Spirit of Massachusetts Trot and $100,000 Clara Barton Distaff Pace.
(Standardbred Owners of Massachusetts)