The $1.3 million (est.) Massachusetts Sire Stakes (MASS) kick off at Plainridge Park on Monday, Oct. with the first leg of two-year-old trotters and pacers of both sexes going for $25,000 per division.
Many of the horses eligible to the MASS are also competing in other racing jurisdictions' sire stakes programs as a result of the resident mare program in Massachusetts. The duality of eligibility is one of the benefits of breeding in Massachusetts, along with the growing purse structure year over year.
There are 51 two-year-olds eligible for this year's MASS stakes. Here are some who will race in the Bay State starting the first of next month and a look at what they have been doing so far this year.
Two-Year-Old Pacing Colts
Victorias Maverick (Western Maverick-Perfect Launch) has won back-to-back Maine Sire Stake races by open lengths and has a mark of 1:57.4 at the Windsor Fair. Victorias Maverick is owned by Leighton Property and Bruce Plouffe and is trained by Valerie Grondin. Lynn-Marie Plouffe bred the colt.
Good Heavens (Rock N Roll Heaven-MS Pininfarina) just finished third in 1:56.3 in the $15,000 Nauset Light Series at Plainridge and is in the $20,000 final on Monday (Sept. 17). Trained and driven by Ivan Davies, this colt has been progressing well the last couple of weeks. Nancy Longobardi bred and owns Good Heavens.
Two-Year-Old Pacing Fillies
Karans Choice (Sportswriter-Denver Love) has been racing in the Ontario Sires Stakes Grassroots series this year and hasn’t been off the board in any of those races. Most recently she finished third at Mohawk in 1:58.4. Al Ross bred and owns the filly that has been trained in Ontario by Michael Keeling.
Two-Year-Old Trotting Colts
Precision (Muscle Hill-Bourbon N Grits) is a three-quarter brother to Hambletonian champion Royalty For Life. He took a mark of 1:57.4 in the Kindergarten Classic at The Meadowlands in July and then improved on that mark at Vernon Downs in his last start, trotting in 1:57.1. He has also made several starts in the Pennsylvania Sire Stakes in between. Bred by Al Ross, Precision is co-owned by Ross and Ray Campbell Jr. and is trained by George Ducharme.
Simple Kaos (RC Royalty-Ksenia) raced in the New York Sire Stakes and Excelsior A series before entering the $15,000 Wood End Light Series at Plainridge Park, where he ran away and hid by 10 lengths in a lifetime-best 1:56. He is back in to go in the $20,000 final of that series, and will be very sharp coming into the MASS off that experience. Simple Kaos was bred by Michelle Larson, who co-owns the colt with trainer George Ducharme.
Buckanlully (Boy Band-Empress Hall) has been having a stellar campaign on the Maine Sire Stake circuit this summer, winning two and finishing second twice as well. He has a mark of 2:05 at Scarborough but trotted in 2:02.2 in defeat at Windsor. David Barnard and Steve LaCasse bred and own Buckanlully with La Casse doing the training.
Jake Gs Champion (RC Royalty-Super Starlet) has been racing in New York Sire Stakes and Excelsior A series races all summer and has only missed one check in those events. He has a mark of 1:59 at Vernon Downs for his breeder-owner Ray Campbell Jr. George Ducharme is his trainer.
Two-Year-Old Trotting Fillies
Evs Girl (Crazed-Lindys Lullaby) started out in New York Sire Stakes action before dropping down to Excelsior A, where she got her first win at Saratoga Raceway by open lengths in 2:00. Team Orange Crush — Andy and Julie Miller — have this filly ready to roll in the MASS for their ownership partners Harvey Eisman and Little E Stable. K R Breeding bred Evs Girl.
The 2018 Massachusetts Sire Stakes race schedule follows:
Monday, Oct. 1 Two-Year-Old First Leg – $25,000 added
Tuesday, Oct. 2 Three-Year-Old First Leg – $25,000 added
Monday, Oct. 8 Two-Year-Old Second Leg – $25,000 added
Tuesday, Oct. 9 Three-Year-Old Second Leg – $25,000 added
Monday, Oct. 22 Two-Year-Old Third Leg – $25,000 added
Tuesday, Oct. 23: Three-Year-Old Third Leg – $25,000 added
Tuesday, Oct. 30: Two- and Three-Year-Old Finals – $85,000 est.
(Standardbred Owners of Massachusetts)