There was $425,676 in purses available for state-bred two-year-old trotters and pacers of both sexes in the first leg of the Massachusetts Breeders Stakes at Plainridge Park on Tuesday, Sept. 24 afternoon. Three of the divisions went in two $54,054 splits with trotting colts and geldings going a lone tilt for $101,351.
The pacing colts and geldings went in two groups and they were highlighted by the performance of Jon I Love Dat ($6.20), who set a new Massachusetts Breeders Stakes record.
Mitchell Cushing put Jon I Love Dat on the point and paced unchallenged through quarters of :27.1, :56.4 and 1:24.3. When he reached the stretch, Jon I Love Dat continued his dominance and paced to the wire without any urging and won by two lengths in 1:52.4, setting the new stakes record.
Jon I Love Dat (Downbytheseaside-Franney Love Dat) was bred by his owner, Robert Lovett, and is trained by Chuck Connor Jr. He earned his fourth win in seven career starts.
The other group of pacing males was headed by Digging For Gold ($3.20).
Silent Weapon (Marcus Miller) was leading at the quarter, but Scott Zeron had Digging For Gold out and rolling from third and grabbed the lead past that station. Digging For Gold continued to lead through three-quarters where Seafood Star (Matty Athearn) made an outside bid towards the leader from third. Digging For Gold and Seafood Star battled through the turn and into the lane where Digging For Gold stayed strong and won by 1-3/4 lengths in 1:53.4.
The win was the fifth in the last six starts for Digging For Gold (Huntsville-Gold Orchid N), who is owned by his trainer, George Ducharme, in partnership with Jim Winske and Dr. Megan Moschgat. Bamq was the breeder of Digging For Gold.
The trotting fillies also went behind the gate and Corner Store made quick work of her rivals in the lone non-betting event.
Yannick Gingras had Corner Store on the point and ahead by two lengths while tripping the timer in :30.4, 1:01.4 and 1:31.2. Corner Store then turned for home and stretched out to a 3-1/4-length victory in 1:59.4.
A winner of her first two career starts, Corner Store (Six Pack-Seven Eleven) is owned by her trainer, Paul Kelley, in partnership with Matthew Lamont, Ellen Palillo and Leo Bauer. William Johnson was the breeder of Corner Store.
In the second division of trotting fillies, Bridgeoverbroadway ($5.60) opened up a huge advantage early and stayed tough to close it out late.
Troy Beyer unleashed Bridgeoverbroadway and she opens up a six-length gap at the :27.2 quarter. Bridgeoverbroadway maintained her growing and seemingly insurmountable lead, which widened to eight lengths at the half, and continued into the backstretch. It was there that Riviera Princess (Yannick Gingras) starting picking up the slack and was reeling in Bridgeoverbroadway with every stride. When they got to the head of the stretch, Bridgeoverbroadway’s lead was down to two lengths and Riviera Princess was still closing in. But at the wire, Bridgeoverbroadway hung on to a half-length lead and won in 1:56.2. The time was a new lifetime mark for the winner and was only one-fifth second off the stakes record.
Bridgeoverbroadway (Six Pack-Black Broadway) is a homebred owned by her trainer, Mike Eaton, in partnership with Bob McHugh. She is now two-for-six to start her career.
In the first of two races for pacing fillies, Beantown Deuce ($9.80) settled in second behind American Lilly (Steven Rybka), who took the field to three-quarters in 1:28.4. It was there that Brett Beckwith pulled Beantown Deuce from the pocket and put her in play. Beantown Deuce was in full flight as she collared American Lilly and paced home on top by a length in 1:56.4, which was a new lifetime mark.
Beantown Deuce (Huntsville-Dont Think Twice) earned her second win in eight outings for trainer George Ducharme and owner Michael Goldberg Racing, also co-breeder with A Harris Racing.
In the second group of pacing fillies, Its Crunch Time ($2.10) paced away and hid in a lifetime-best effort.
Yannick Gingras put Its Crunch Time on the lead and extended their advantage at every station after that. After stopping the clock in :29, :57.4 and 1:25.3, Its Crunch Time hit the line ahead by 16 lengths in 1:54 to break her maiden in her fifth attempt.
Its Crunch Time (Captain Crunch-Meghan Lynn) is owned by Thomas and Scott Dillon and trained by Ron Burke. Crawford Farms bred the winner.
Finally, the trotting colts and gelding went to post with Castel Lindy ($2.40) going gate to wire while tying the stakes record.
Yannick Gingras took an easy lead with Castel Lindy and set solid fractions of :28.3 and :58.2. As the race moved to the backstretch, Scott Zeron tipped Belmondo from third and drew alongside Castel Lindy past three-quarters in 1:27.3 in the final turn. Belmondo continued to pressure Castel Lindy into the stretch and down to the wire, but never got the advantage as Castel Lindy hung on by a neck in 1:55.4, which was a new lifetime mark.
Castel Lindy (Walner-Love N Lindy), who is now two-for-six, is owned and bred by K R Breeding and trained by Domenico Cecere.
Racing resumes at Plainridge Park on Thursday, Sept. 26 at 2 p.m. with the Massachusetts Breeders Stakes reconvening on Monday, Sept. 30.
(With files from Standardbred Owners of Massachusetts; Photo of Jon I Love Dat winning on Sept. 24 at Plainridge Park)