Monday was the second day of the $1.8 million (est.) Massachusetts Sire Stakes at Plainridge Park featuring the two-year-old performers and that group picked up where their three-year-old counterparts left off on Sunday (Sept. 29); breaking records.
Topping the list were Life Is A Feast and Han Solo who put on brilliant performances in their non-betting events and etched themselves into the Massachusetts record books.
In the $38,500 trot for two-year-old colts and geldings, Life Is A Feast (Howard Parker) went gate-to-wire uncontested, and pulled away in the last half of the race to be the easiest of winners by 4-1/4 lengths in 1:55.4.
Life Is A Feast (Royalty For Life-Luau Hanover) not only extended his current win streak to three, he also took a new lifetime mark, set a new MASS stake record and a new Plainridge Park track record for two-year-old trotting geldings. Both former marks were 1:56.3 set by Hashtagmadeyalook in 2017.
Life Is A Feast is owned by Al Ross and Paul Fontaine and is trained by George Ducharme. Karen Carroll bred the gelding.
Then in the first $22,100 division of two-year-old pacing colts and geldings, Han Solo (Kevin Switzer, Jr.) undertook an identical race strategy by taking the front, leading at every station and maintaining a 1-1/4 length lead to the wire where he stopped the timer in 1:54.4.
Han Solo (Mister Big-Leah) is now on a four-race win streak and with this victory, set a new MASS stake record for two-year-old pacing colts. He broke the former mark of 1:56 set by Ideal Smile in 2011 and later matched by Twelve in 2017.
Monique Cohen bred, owns and trains Han Solo.
The next three stake races were on the regular pari-mutuel card and they returned some healthy payoffs for the betting faithful.
In the second $22,450 division for two-year-old pacing colts and geldings the 38-1 Spatterdash (Mike Stevenson) got away sixth while the heavily favoured R Maddy Blue Chip (Gary Mosher) cut all the fractions. Stevenson pulled Spatterdash second-over behind Kevmarvelous (Kevin Switzer, Jr.) at the three-quarters, then tipped three-deep into the stretch and barrelled down the lane to beat a fast closing Mcbeantown (Mitchell Cushing) at the wire in 1:56.3.
It was the first lifetime win and mark for Spatterdash ($78.00) who is owned and trained by Ralph Anderson. Anderson also bred Spatterdash (Deuce Seelster-Poster Hanover).
The $41,300 pace for two-year-old fillies was a full field of nine that I Am Wonder Woman (Wally Watson) took to the half in :56.4. Odds On Orlando (Drew Monti) was out and rolling at that point and she continued to grind around the second turn, up the backstretch and to the three-quarters where she found welcomed cover from the favoured Rys Red Rocket (Matty Athearn) who popped the pocket for the advance. Positions remained the same until the top of the stretch where Rys Red Rocket opened up a two-length lead. However Odds On Orlando was relentless in pursuit, tracking her down and catching the leader at the wire to win in 1:56.1.
It was the first lifetime win and mark for Odds On Orlando ($28.40) who is owned by Odds On Racing and trained by Tony Alagna. Lindy Farms of Connecticut bred Odds On Orlando (Captaintreacherous-Lindys Old Lady).
The only favoured winner of the day came in the $39,900 two-year-old filly trot where Without A Warning (Shawn Gray) got away 10 lengths behind the front-stepping RTs Warrior (Matty Athearn). She eventually tripped-out a gapped third-over from the half to the three-quarters where the field finally bunched in 1:27.4. Gray tipped Without A Warning three-deep into the last turn and proceeded to make up ground. At the head of the lane Without A Warning fanned five-wide and was in full stride; flying down the lane under a hand drive from Gray and passing everyone at the wire in 1:58.4.
Without A Warning ($2.20) scored her first lifetime win for owner Ray Campbell, Jr. and trainer George Ducharme. Campbell also bred Without A Warning (RC Royalty-Concentration).
After only nine races in the first leg of the MASS this year, three stake and two track records have already been rewritten between the two age groups.
The Massachusetts Sire Stakes will continue with the second leg of the series next week at Plainridge Park. On Sunday (Oct. 6) the three-year-olds will compete in divisions worth $35,000 (added) and on Monday (Oct. 7) the two-year-olds will reconvene and go for purses of $35,000 (added) each. Post time for both days is 2 p.m.
The next day of live racing at Plainridge Park is Thursday (Oct. 2) with post time for the first race at 2 p.m.
(Standardbred Owners of Massachusetts)