The three-year-old trotters and pacers hit the track for the first leg of the $1.8 million (est.) Massachusetts Sire Stakes (MASS) on Sunday afternoon (Sept. 29) at Plainridge Park and the record books were rewritten in two of the four events.
In the $39,900 three-year-old colt and gelding trot, Simple Kaos took a quick lead in the race, followed by Jake Gs Champion and the two opened up a three-length lead on the field by the quarter in :28.2. They remained one-two to the half and extended their gap on the field to seven lengths when they hit the three-quarters in 1:25.3. It was there that Simple Kaos parted ways with Jake Gs Champion and opened up a three-length lead on him that he extended to five down the lane and to the wire where he was a wrapped-up winner in 1:54.3.
The time was a lifetime mark for Simple Kaos and also a track record at Plainridge Park for three-year-old trotting geldings, replacing the old mark of 1:55.1 set by Nows The Moment in 2018.
Simple Kaos, who was the 2018 MASS two-year-old trotting champion, scored his first win of 2019 for owner/trainer George Ducharme. Michelle Larson bred Simple Kaos (RC Royalty-Ksenia). Jimmy Whittemore drove the $4.40 winner.
Then in the $38,500 three-year-old trotting fillies division, Crystalline made a big late move to capture her first stake win of the year.
Mother Teresa took the point off the gate and led the single-file pack to the half without a challenge in :57. An outer-flow formed with Evs Girl coming first up and Crystalline second over. At three-quarters they fanned three wide with Evs Girl two out and Crystalline, who had made a move from fourth, farthest from the pegs. Evs Girl did take the lead at the head of the stretch but Crystalline was still closing, and closing fast. Driver Shawn Gray kept her to her work and Crystalline gained the lead in deep stretch and won by a length in 1:56.1.
It was a lifetime mark for Crystalline and a new MASS stake record for three-year-old trotting fillies, surpassing the 10-year-old standard of 1:58.1 set by RC Curiosity in 2009.
Crystalline is owned by Ray Campbell Jr. and is trained by George Ducharme. Campbell also bred Crystalline (Chapter Seven-Royalty Free). She paid $7.20 to win.
The three-year-old pacing fillies competed for $37,800 with Karans Choice scoring a narrow victory.
Secure The Boarder and Karans Choice battled for the lead to the quarter in :27.4 before Secure The Boarder eventually took control and seated Karans Choice. The race then went to the half in :57.1 and the three-quarters in 1:26.1 where Karans Choice was back out and moving with So Beautiful on her back. At the top of the lane Karans Choice took the lead and So Beautiful drew alongside and the two matched strides all the way to the wire. Karans Choice eventually out-muscled So Beautiful and scored victory by a head in 1:56.
Karans Choice is looking to become a two-time MASS champion for owner Al Ross and trainer-driver Jim Hardy. Al Ross bred Karans Choice (Sportswriter-Denverlove). She paid $2.20 to win.
The final event was the $40,600 pace for three-year-old colts and geldings with CBF Bantam getting the winner’s share.
It was a four-horse mad rush for the lead with Magnetron and Stihl N directing the fast fight for the front in a :26.3 first quarter. With Magnetron on the pylons and Stihl N outside, the two continued to trade blows to the half with Victorias Maverick in a close stalking position behind. At the three-quarters the field was four deep again with CBF Bantam and driver Shawn Gray being the farthest outside making a big move from sixth. CBF Bantam made up a four-length deficit before swooping the group in the turn and opening up a three-length lead, coasting home easily in 1:55.
CBF Bantam is owned by Glenn Harris and Marion Phelps and is trained by David Crochere. Glenn Harris and Marion Phelps also bred CBF Bantam (Baron Biltmore-Cohenucopia). He paid $2.40 to win.
The Massachusetts Sire Stakes will continue at Plainridge Park on Monday (Sept. 30) with two non-betting events that will take place at 1:30 p.m. and 1:45 p.m. before the regular card and then three more races that will go as race one, two and three on the regular pari-mutuel program which starts at 2 p.m.
(Plainridge Park)