The Massachusetts Breeders Stakes continued at Plainridge Park on Tuesday, Sept. 30 as the state's top three-year-olds lined up in seven events worth a combined $479,167.
The speedy oval at The Ridge produced four stakes records, three track records and five new lifetime marks, but no single effort was more outstanding than the mile turned in by Corner Store, who rewrote the record books across the board.
After a stakes record-breaking and track record-equalling performance in the opener, Corner Store put on an eye-popping performance to rewrite both of those standards in the $62,500 second division for trotting fillies.
Brett Beckwith fired Corner Store to the front and maintained a loose lead ahead of R Lady W (Matt Kakaley), who had settled in second. After fast fractions of :27 and :54.4, Corner Store and R Lady W had broken away from the rest of the pack, and the leader was four lengths in front at three-quarters in 1:22.3. R Lady W was making up some ground as they headed down the stretch, but Corner Store was wrapped up and headed for home an easy winner by 1-1/2 lengths in 1:51.3, which was a new lifetime mark and a new stakes and track record. R Lady W was second, with All Of A Sudden (Steve Smith) far behind in third.
Corner Store ($3.20) is seven-for-17 lifetime for trainer Paul Kelley. The daughter of Six Pack-Seven Eleven is owned by Paul Kelley Racing Stable, in partnership with Matthew Lamont, Ellen Palillo and Leo Bauer.
The opening stakes was the first $62,500 division of trotting fillies that was carded as a non-betting event, and Tactical Moni produced a record performance.
Tactical Moni (Brett Beckwith) got away fifth as the lead changed hands between Bridgeoverbroadway (Mitchell Cushing), Elegant Dance (Nick Graffam) and Peach Cocktail (Matty Athearn) in a :28 first panel, the latter of whom then took the girls to the half in :57. As the race moved onto the backstretch, Beckwith had Tactical Moni out and trotting, and the filly flew past the field to take the lead at three-quarters in 1:25.3 and opened up a four-length gap at the top of the stretch. The rest was academic as Tactical Moni drew clear by 9-1/4 lengths in 1:53.3. Peach Cocktail was second, followed by Bridgeoverbroadway.
Tactical Moni is a homebred daughter of Tactical Landing-All Our Moni for Moni Maker Stable. Domenico Cecere has trained her to seven wins in 10 starts.
The previous stakes record of 1:53.4 was held by Treatyofversailles (2024), and Tactical Moni joined Decadence (2017) and Stash Some Cash (2025) in holding the track record of 1:53.3 until the next race, when Corner Store lowered it by two seconds.
The pacing fillies were up next in two $62,500 splits. In the first, Cindys Faith turned it into a race for place.
Bruce Ranger set up shop on the point with Cindys Faith, who cut fractions of :27.2, :55 and 1:22.4 as the rest of the field followed with no answers. Cindys Faith rounded the bend and bolted for the line while Ranger sat chilly to win by 10-1/4 lengths in a new lifetime record of 1:51.2. Seafood Cc (Kakaley) was best of the rest, with Treacherous Idol (Graffam) third.
Cindys Faith ($2.80) is owned by breeder Shark Racing Stable and trained by Larry Stalbaum. The Roll With Joe-Ravenna Star filly took her second win in 29 lifetime starts.
In the second division, Wassail Blue Chip turned in the fastest mile of her life in victory.
Beantown Deuce (Kakaley) was leading at the quarter in :28 but soon succumbed to Wassail Blue Chip (Yannick Gingras), who had floated on the outside to gain command. Once in front, Wassail Blue Chip paced confidently to the half in :56.2 and three-quarters in 1:24.2. Challenges came from Beantown Deuce and Moneymakesherhappy (Beckwith) in the final panel, but Wassail Blue Chip turned them both away to win by 2-1/4 lengths in a career-best 1:52.2. Beantown Deuce was second over Moneymakesherhappy.
Wassail Blue Chip ($17), a daughter of Courtly Choice-Baccara Hanover, was bred by Blue Chip Bloodstock Inc. Alicia Gray trains her for Erv Miller Stable Inc., Andray Farm and David Miller. She is four-for-18 lifetime.
The pacing colts and geldings then took to the track in two $62,500 divisions. The first group was won by Courageous Warrior, who tied the stakes record and took a new lifetime mark.
Courageous Warrior (Athearn) was in front on the first turn before Digging For Gold (Graffam) pulled from third to take the lead at the quarter in :27.2. Digging For Gold then got to the half in :56 and three-quarters in 1:23.3 while Courageous Warrior kept his nose on Graffam's helmet. Halfway through the turn, Athearn tipped Courageous Warrior, who drew alongside Digging For Gold at the top of the stretch. The two matched strides to the line where Courageous Warrior nabbed his foe by a neck in 1:51.1. Seafood Neighneigh (Gingras) was third.
Courageous Warrior ($20.40) is owned by Curran Racing and Nickerson Racing. Jimmy Nickerson trains the Huntsville-Chief Karen gelding, who has won four of 16 lifetime outings. Courageous Warrior now shares the stakes record for three-year-old pacing males with Rocknroll Lou.
The second division went to Jon I Love Dat, who moved early and then hung on late for the win.
It was a five-horse mad dash off the gate, but Southpaw (Jimmy Whittemore) eventually took command at the :26.3 quarter. But that lead was short-lived as Gingras pulled Jon I Love Dat from third and had the front before the half in :55.3. With only a minor threat posed by Massive Speed (Kevin Switzer Jr.) as they approached three-quarters in 1:24.2, Jon I Love Dat and Southpaw continued to be the players as they made their way around the last turn. When they reached the top of the stretch, Southpaw pulled and tried to advance, but he came up three-quarters of a length short as Jon I Love Dat hung on to win in 1:52. Wyatt Earp (Ranger) completed the ticket.
Janice Connor trains Jon I Love Dat ($2.80) for owner-breeder Robert Lovett. The intact son of Downbytheseaside-Franney Love Dat is seven-for-23 lifetime.
Te Quiero Lindy took the final stakes event of the day, a single $104,167 division for trotting colts and geldings. He set a new stakes record, tied the track record and matched his own lifetime mark with the victory.
Te Quiero Lindy (Tyler Miller) took the lead from stablemate My Degenerate (Andy Miller) in the first turn and then passed the quarter in :27.2. Te Quiero Lindy marched to the half in :57.3 and three-quarters in 1:25.1 with My Degenerate still waiting to move from the pocket. That rival took his shot at the top of the stretch as he moved to the outside and bore down on Te Quiero Lindy, matching strides with the leader all the way to the wire. It took a photo to show that Te Quiero Lindy had won by a nose in 1:53.2. Moni Man (Beckwith) was third.
Te Quiero Lindy ($3.80) is owned by Andy Miller Stable Inc., Patrick Hoopes and Lindy Farms of Connecticut, who also bred the winner. The son of Walner-Adios Lindy, trained by Julie Miller, is now six-for-23.
The previous stakes record was 1:53.3 (Big Man Ev, 2017 & Pepper Wow, 2024), and Te Quiero Lindy now co-owns the track record with Spaaaanzano (2024).
The weekly featured $34,722 Open Handicap Pace was a record-setting event as Two Fold Cold sizzled the stone-dust surface in 1:48.2 and set a new track record for four-year-old pacing geldings.
David Ingraham got away fifth with Two Fold Cold as Price Control (Cushing) was loose on the lead at the quarter in :25.1. The fast pace on the point created a gap in the field, prompting Ingraham to pull Two Fold Cold early, just past the first station, to start the long grind towards the leader. Price Control tripped the beam at the half in :53.4, but as the race made its way up the backstretch, Two Fold Cold cruised alongside of Price Control and eventually cleared to the front before the 1:20.4 three-quarters. Once he crossed over, Two Fold Cold swelled up and bolted away by three lengths at the top of the stretch and from there, he cruised home under wraps as Tip Top Cat (Gingras) could only chase in vain. The latter was second by 1-1/4 lengths, followed by Spring Inhis Step A (Beckwith).
The previous record for a four-year-old pacing gelding at Plainridge was 1:48.4, taken by DP Realordeal in 2023.
The win was the third straight and 24th lifetime in 40 lifetime starts for Two Fold Cold ($7.60). The four-year-old son of Deuce Seelster-Snow Cone A is owned by Marc Tardif and trained by Kelly Case.
Live harness racing will resume at Plainridge Park on Thursday, Oct. 2 at 2 p.m.
(With files from Standardbred Owners of Massachusetts)