The $1.4 million (est.) Massachusetts Sire Stakes (MASS) kicked off its 2020 season at Plainridge Park on Sunday afternoon (Sept. 27) when the three-year-olds took center stage for their first of three legs. The track was lightning fast and the performances were as well as three stake records fell right out of the box.
In the $29,000 male pacing division, Wyatt J (American Ideal-Think Pink) drafted third on the pylons while R Maddy Blue Chip and Spatterdash traded leads before the half. Passing the five-eighths, driver Scott Zeron tipped Wyatt J wide and marched towards the leading Spatterdash, pacing alongside him around the last turn. At the head of the stretch Wyatt J pulled away to a one-and-three-quarter length lead and won in 1:52.1. The time was a lifetime mark for the winner and a stake record for a three-year-old pacing colt.
Wyatt J ($2.20) registered his fifth win in a row for owner Ken Jacobs and trainer Linda Toscano. Lindy Farms of Connecticut bred the winner.
Then in the $28,000 leg for pacing fillies, Shes A Fireball (Western Maverick-Fire Can Fly) got away fourth behind the heavily favoured Rys Red Rocket before pulling first-over past the half to engage the leader by the three-quarter pole. From there driver Ron Cushing urged Shes A Fireball around the final turn and all the way down the stretch, overpowering a game Rys Red Rocket to win by a neck in 1:54.1. The time was a lifetime mark and a stake record for a three-year-old pacing filly.
Shes A Fireball ($7.40) scored her second win in her last three starts for owners Ron Cushing and Adams Racing. Shes A Fireball is trained by Heidi Gibbs and was bred by Lucia Les and Kenneth Clairmont.
The trotting fillies went for $29,000 in their first grouping and Without A Warning (RC Royalty-Concentration) put on quite a show. After taking the lead at the quarter, Without A Warning was visited by stablemate Dramatra at the half and the two trotted stride for stride to the three quarters. At that point Without A Warning switched gears and left Dramatra in her dust. She spun off the far turn and opened a six-length gap at the wire to win in 1:54.2. The time was a lifetime mark for the winner and a stake record for a three-year-old trotting filly.
Without A Warning ($2.40) gave Scott Zeron his second win of the day and the filly her third win this year for owner-breeder Ray Campbell Jr. George Ducharme trains the winner.
Owner-breeder Campbell and trainer Ducharme also had the winner of the $28,000 male trotting division Double Dealing, who left from post 1 led the entire race by one-and-a-quarter lengths before turning for home and stretching to a four-length advantage at the beam in 1:56.1.
Double Dealing ($6.20) now has five wins on the year for his connections. Shawn Gray drove the winner.
The MASS continue at Plainridge Park on Monday (Sept. 28) at 2 p.m. (EDT) when four divisions of two-year-olds will vie for $114,000 in purses.
(Plainridge Park)