Defending Dan Patch Trotter of the Year Lexus Kody defeated favoured stablemate Antognoni S to capture the $422,535 Grade 2 Spirit of Massachusetts Trot at Plainridge Park on Sunday, July 19 and set a world record for a trotting gelding on a five-eighths-mile track.
Leaving from the rail, Lexus Kody got away third for Tim Tetrick as Aetos Kronos S (Dexter Dunn) and Antognoni S (Yannick Gingras) took turns on the front in a :27 quarter. As Antognoni S crossed over to the pegs to complete the give-and-go, Tetrick pulled Lexus Kody and brought him to the top before passing the half in :54.1.
As the field moved to the final turn, Aetos Kronos S moved first-over from third when flushed out by last year's Spirit of Massachusetts winner, Up Your Deo (Ake Svanstedt) nearing three-quarters in 1:21.2. Lexus Kody was still in control at the top of the lane, with Antognoni S moving up the pylons and Up Your Deo closing on the outside. Lexus Kody finished gamely, resisting the two attackers to win by a half-length in 1:49.4. Antognoni S took second over Up Your Deo.
The time of 1:49.4 equalled Lexus Kody’s seasonal mark, set two weeks ago at The Meadowlands, and broke the track record for aged trotting geldings of 1:50.3 he set in in 2023. It was also one-fifth of a second shy of the 1:49.3 all-time track trotting record set by Manchego in the 2020 edition of the Spirit. Lexus Kody also entered the world record books, lowering the all-age standard for a gelded trotter on a five-eighths oval. The previous mark of 1:50.1 was set by Homicide Hunter at Pocono Downs in 2016.
Lexus Kody's third straight win improved his seasonal record to three-for-five for owners Burke Racing Stable LLC, Weaver Bruscemi LLC and Phil Collura. The eight-year-old son of Archangel-Lexus Helios has earned $2,906,978 and won 40 of his 95 career appearances, including the 2025 Maple Leaf Trot and 2025 Yonkers International Trot. He gave trainer Ron Burke his third victory in the Spirit after the conditioner won the 2023 and 2024 editions with Its Academic. Lexus Kody paid $9.20 to win.
Twin B Joe Fresh Wins Clara Barton
In an exciting race that featured a thrilling finish, Twin Joe B Fresh earned her third win from six starts this year in a seasonal mark of 1:48.1 in the $211,268 Clara Barton Distaff Pace.
Dexter Dunn got away third early with Twin B Joe Fresh as Unreasonable (Todd McCarthy) took the field to the quarter in :26.1. But Dunn sent his mare out and rolling in front of the stands and had her in command passing the half in :53.3. As the field moved past five-eighths, Rodeo Drive Deo (Yannick Gingras) pulled from third and took a quick shot at Twin B Joe Fresh, who was prepared for the challenge.
The mares paced within a length of each other to three-quarters in 1:21.4, where Twin B Joe Fresh turned back the attacker. Unreasonable was still in hot pursuit and tipped out as they approached the stretch, blasting quickly towards Twin B Joe Fresh. Unreasonable continued to gain ground as Twin B Joe Fresh fought hard to protect her lead, which she did to win by a head. Talk Curdy To Me (Brett Beckwith) finished third.
Twin B Joe Fresh has now earned $3,697,144 during her stellar career for owners Chris Ryder, Dunn, Peter Trebotica and Barry Spak. The 2024 Dan Patch Horse of the Year has won three of her past four starts, including the Dorothy Haughton Memorial on July 11. The Chris Ryder-trained six-year-old Roll With Joe-Fresh Breeze mare is now 39-for-55 lifetime. She paid $2.60 to win.
For Once Inmy Life Stays Undefeated At Plainridge With Beckwith Memorial Win
The heavily favoured For Once Inmy Life remained unbeaten over the Plainridge track with a strong showing in the $105,634 Bert Beckwith Memorial Pace.
Jackson Cooper (Brett Beckwith) took a quick lead, but For Once Inmy Life (Bruce Ranger) challenged him passing the :26 quarter and went to the top. For Once Inmy Life reached the half in :54.1, when Soho Spectre A (Tim Tetrick) made a first-over play and pushed the tempo to a 1:21.2 three-quarters.
For Once Inmy Life turned back the challenge of Soho Spectre A on the far turn but was quickly under fire again as Beckwith pulled Jackson Cooper from the pocket. Jackson Cooper made up some ground, but For Once Inmy Life was in control down the stretch and crossed the line a 1-3/4-length winner in 1:49. Still Rollin N (Todd McCarthy) was third behind Jackson Cooper.
For Once Inmy Life is six-for-six at Plainridge for trainer Cory Stratton with five Open wins preceding Sunday's Beckwith Memorial score. The six-year-old son of Downbytheseaside-Flyme To The Moon is owned by Winters Racing Stable. He is 22-for-71 lifetime and has banked $774,662. The win price was $2.60.
Racing will resume at Plainridge Park on Monday at 4 p.m.
(Standardbred Owners of Massachusetts)