Massachusetts Sire Stakes (MASS) action will kick off at Plainridge Park next week, as three-year-old trotters and pacers of both genders will compete in the first leg on Tuesday (Oct. 2). Each division will carry a purse of $35,000.
Many of the horses eligible to the MASS have also competed in other racing jurisdiction’s sires stakes programs as a result of the resident mare program in Massachusetts.
Some of the MASS eligibles that will be probable starters on October 2 are listed below, along with some notes on what they have done thus far this season.
Three-Year-Old Pacing Colts
Twelve (Shady Character-Sabine Hanover) has had a stellar year on the Maine Sire Stake (MSS) circuit, as he has won four legs and finished second and third two times each as well. His mark is 1:57 at Scarborough Downs this year and he has earned $35,977 for his efforts. He was a major player in the MASS last year, as he tied a stakes record of 1:56 for his division and it looks like he has continued to improve since then. Dean Malin bred and owns Twelve and has Eddie Davis Jr. doing the training.
Pembroke Pharoah (Baron Biltmore-Migraine) has also been a star on the MSS, as he has won five legs and earned $34,807 thus far this year. He took a mark of 1:56.4 at Windsor and has hit the board in nine out of his 11 starts. He did win one leg of the MASS at two, but was disqualified for interference after the race, so he will be looking to record his first official win in that series this year. William Varney owns Pembroke Pharoah with his driver, Heath Campbell, and also bred the horse with his trainer, Valerie Grondin.
Last year’s two-year-old champion, Im A Clown (Im Gorgeous-Lordy Miss Scarlet), has been lightly raced back this year, as he has made only five starts between Plainridge Park and Harrington Raceway. He has been improving of late and will be back to defend his freshman title for his owner, Nelson Malin III, and trainer, Kevin Switzer. Malin and Switzer bred Im A Clown.
Three-Year-Old Pacing Fillies
Gonna Hear Me Rohr (Western Maverick-Heather K) has recorded five wins and two seconds in MSS action to date. She has a lifetime mark of 1:58.1 (taken at Skowhegan) and has banked $35,205 in earnings. That’s quite a turnaround from her only two starts last year where she was distanced in both and it’s quite possible that she will be the one to beat in this division this year. Bradford Veilleux owns Gonna Hear Me Rohr who is trained by James Dunn and was bred by Heidi Rohr.
Rock Me Threetimes (Rock N Roll Heaven-Love Rocks) has won three of her eight races this year, including a 1:53.1 lifetime-best effort at Plainridge Park. She hasn’t seen any stakes action since the 2017 MASS, but her overnight efforts indicate that she seems ready to compete. KDK Standardbred bred and owns Rock Me Threetimes and Kevin Switzer is the trainer.
Delco Dusty (Jeremys Jet-Gypsy’s Good Girl) was the two-year-old champion in this division last year and set a stakes record of 1:53 in the process, but she is off to a slow start in 2018 and winless to this point. Her latest effort was much improved and she will have to step up to try and regain last year’s success. Jesse De Long bred and owns Delco Dusty who is trained by Jimmy Nickerson.
Three-Year-Old Trotting Colts
Hashtagmadeyalook (Chapter Seven-Royalty Free) was the MASS 2017 two-year-old champion and is looking to do the same at three. He started out this year racing in the New York Sire Stakes (NYSS) before dropping down to the Excelsior ‘A’ series. There he found a good spot, as he scored two wins, two seconds and a third from five outings while earning $29,815. Although he made the Excelsior finals by points, he was scratched ‘sick’ on August 10 and has been off ever since (he just qualified back on September 21). If he regains his summer form, he will be a major player in the MASS this year for owner/breeder Ray Campbell Jr. and trainer George Ducharme.
After having seen substantial Grand Circuit action last year, Kinda Lucky Lindy (Lucky Chucky-Kinda Crazy Lindy) has only had limited stakes engagements to date in 2018 (two starts in the NYSS and an elimination of the Empire Breeders Championship). However, he has recorded three overnight wins and took a new lifetime mark of 1:54.2 earlier this year (and is very familiar with the Plainridge track). Lindy Farms of Connecticut bred and owns Kinda Lucky Lindy, who is trained by Domenico Cecere.
Three-Year-Old Trotting Fillies
Ithinkthatsmine (RC Royalty-Super Starlet) was the top point-getter in the NYSS Excelsior ‘A’ series this year. She recorded four wins, three seconds and a third from eight starts and earned $52,730. Although she got beat in the final, it was only by three lengths from Post 7. She will come into the MASS ready to roll off her competition in New York this year. Ithinkthatsmine is owned and bred by Ray Campbell Jr. and is trained by George Ducharme.
Bag O Chips (Sierra Kosmos-Heather Spur) was the two-year-old MASS champion last year, but hasn’t had much success in 2018. After having not qualified until July 13, Bag O Chips was scratched ‘sick’ and didn’t make her first start until July 26. In her limited starts she has had some breaking issues that seem to have been worked out in subsequent qualifiers leading up to her first MASS start this year. Bred by Linwood Farm, Bag O Chips is owned by Ray Campbell Jr. and trained by George Ducharme.
The Massachusetts Sire Stakes kick off the 2018 season on Monday (Oct. 1) with four divisions of two-year-old trotters and pacers each of which will be racing for an estimated purse of $35,000. The three-year-olds will hit the track on Tuesday (Oct. 2) for their first leg. Horsepeople are advised that the draw for both days will be held on Thursday (Sept. 27) with the box closing at 9 a.m.
The complete MASS schedule appears below.
Monday (Oct. 1)
Two-year-old First Leg $35,000 added
Tuesday (Oct. 2)
Three-year-old First Leg $35,000 added
Monday (Oct. 8)
Two-year-old Second Leg $35,000 added
Tuesday (Oct. 9)
Three-year-old Second Leg $35,000 added
Monday (Oct. 22)
Two-year-old Third Leg $35,000 added
Tuesday (Oct. 23)
Three-year-old Third Leg $35,000 added
Tuesday (Oct. 30)
Two and three-year-old Finals $85,000 (est.)
(With files from the Standardbred Owners of Massachusetts)