After a two-week sabbatical, the top state-bred two-year-olds of both gaits and genders will be back in action at Plainridge Park on Monday afternoon (October 23) for the third leg of the Massachusetts Sire Stakes (MASS).
Three races that will be contested as non-betting events will kick off at 1 p.m. The fourth dash of the MASS leg has been carded as Race 3 on the pari-mutuel card. First-race post time for the pari-mutuel card is 2:30 p.m.
The $33,800 two-year-old filly trot will feature Bag O Chips (Sierra Kosmos-Heather Spur) who won the first two legs by open lengths and set a new track and stakes record of 1:57.4 for gender, age and gait. She is also the highest money winner in the race with $31,200 on her card. Trainer George Ducharme will have Chris Lems at the lines for the third straight start and the duo will start from Post 3. Ithinkthatsmine (RC Royalty-Super Starlet), who will be driven by Steve Smith, and Jazz Me (RC Royalty-Promises Kept), who will be driven by Jimmy Whittemore, will be the main rivals in the race. Both are also trained by Ducharme.
The $34,800 two-year-old colt and gelding trot will feature Kinda Lucky Lindy (Lucky Chucky-Kinda Crazy Lindy), who is heading into the dash riding a two-race MASS win streak, and despite having drawn Post 7, he looks solid to three-peat. With little inside speed, Kinda Lucky Lindy will probably set the front-end fractions again and add to his $56,508 seasonal bankroll. Trainer Frank Antonacci will have Plainridge Park’s leading driver, Greg Merton, up in the bike again. Hashtagmadeyalook (Chapter Seven-Royalty Free) has finished second in both starts to Kinda Lucky Lindy; the last time only beaten three-quarters of a length. This will be only his third lifetime start and he has been improving each week. George Ducharme and Chris Lems will team up with him from Post 5.
The $34,266 two-year-old filly pace will feature another track and stakes record holder, Delco Dusty (Jeremes Jet-Gypsys Good Girl). Delco Dusty has won both of her MASS events, and set the new standard in her first start with a 1:53 mile. She did race in an overnight at Vernon Downs last week and finished fourth. Trainer Heidi Rohr will have Greg Merton aboard – as in the two previous stakes starts – and they have drawn Post 3. Rock Me Three Times (Rock N Roll Heaven-Love Rocks) and Momma Dont Dance (Art Major-Mommy Robin Q) have each finished second and third one time behind Delco Dusty and will both be in hot pursuit again in this race. Rock Me three Times drew Post 1 for trainer Kevin Switzer and driver Shawn Gray, and Momma Dont Dance drew Post 6 for trainer Linda Toscano and driver Steve Smith.
The $34,900 two-year-old colt and gelding pace features Im A Clown (Im Gorgeous-Lordy Miss Scarlet) as the heavy 6-5 early favourite in the only MASS betting race of day. Im A Clown won the first division of the series in 1:56.3 and finished second the following week to Pembroke Pharoah, who is not entered this week. Im A Clown shipped to Harrington Raceway last week and won an overnight event and certainly looks the favourite part here. He will start from Post 7 for trainer Kevin Switzer and driver Shawn Gray. CBF Real Deal (So Surreal-CBF Fancy) has a second and third in MASS action and has stayed sharp in the off weeks finishing second twice in close finishes in overnights at Plainridge. Having drawn well with Post 2, he will look to track the favourite. Nick Graffam will steer for trainer Ralph Anderson.
(With files from the Standardbred Owners of Massachusetts)