The Massachusetts Sire Stakes will be back at Plainridge Park today (Monday, Oct. 25) to close out their 2021 season with the $800,000 finals, and when they go to post, Yannick Gingras is in position to have a big day driving in his first finals there.
Gingras is no stranger to Plainridge Park as he’s competed there in Grand Circuit events over the years. But this is the first time he’s competed in the Massachusetts Sire Stakes. Although it wasn’t something that was on his schedule at the beginning of the year, it developed over the summer and so far, has worked out very well for everyone involved.
“I wasn’t really planning on coming to Massachusetts for these stakes but it all just kind of came together," said Gingras. "I was driving Moni For Lindy in New York and they wanted me to come up there for this series and then I remembered that Incommunicado, who I was also driving in New York, was going there as well. And then Mark (Ford) asked me to drive Mullinax so it really worked out. I’ve raced here before in the Spirit Trot but I’m glad this opportunity arose because I’ve enjoyed being up there."
Moni For Lindy, Incommunicado and Mullinax are certainly three of a kind. All have won their three preliminary legs in dominating fashion and are the top point-getters in their respective divisions heading into the finals. Gingras hopes to close out their time in Massachusetts with one more win for each.
Moni for Lindy (Credit Winner-Live Moni) is currently the fastest three-year-old trotting filly ever bred in Massachusetts after her 1:53.4 win at Vernon this past June. Last year at two, she was second in four consecutive starts in the MASS, but looks to sweep in 2021. She finished second in the $200,000 New York Sire Stakes final at Yonkers to Iteration after winning three legs of that series over the summer. She currently has $301,377 in earnings this year with eight wins and hasn’t missed the board in 13 tries.
“Moni For Lindy has been tremendous and she’s been getting better and better each week," said Gingras. "When I raced her the first time in New York I really liked her but she’s improved since then. I thought she should have won the [New York Sire Stake] final but we came out a little late and she just got beat. Last week, she just jogged and I don’t think you’ve seen the bottom of her. She’s coming into this race in super shape and I really like the filly."
Incommunicado (Chapter Seven-Gran Cavalla) was the undefeated two-year-old MASS champion who won the final last year by 17-1/4 lengths. In May, he won the $115,583 Dexter Cup at Freehold and is once again undefeated in the MASS this year. He is now a lifetime winner of $391,390 in purses, of which one-third of that total came from Massachusetts. And he just lowered his lifetime mark twice in his last two starts.
“Incommunicado has been good all year," said Gingras. "He started out early winning the Dexter Cup at Freehold and I thought he was a little sharper then. Had some throat problems over the summer that they took care of, but he lost some time as a result. In his first start in Massachusetts this year, he won but he was short because he had been off a while. Last week, I thought he was the best for me since the Dexter win, even though he got a little stretched out. This week, I think he’ll be really good and should be tough to beat."
Mullinax (American Ideal-Up Front Kellie Jo) was the two-year-old MASS champion, set a stakes and track record for pacing colts of 1:53.4 at two and this year set a stakes record while taking a new lifetime mark of 1:51.3. Currently undefeated in the series, Mullinax has earned $289,324 in 28 lifetime starts. He was race-timed in 1:49.3 earlier this year when he was beaten half a length by P L Ozzy at the Meadowlands.
“Mullinax has been extremely sharp throughout and he’s raced really well," said Gingras. "We drew the rail with him and that definitely doesn’t hurt so we’ll see what happens. He’s raced really consistently all year. He was in the New York Sire Stakes and the Empire Breeders earlier and the competition was much tougher, but he held his own. And not having to race against those bearcats makes it a little easier on him in here."
Gingras is also driving Dancin On The Wall (Walner-Lovely Lindy), Believe Its Lindy (American Ideal-See To Believe) and Rightfully Mine (American Ideal-Leah).
Gingras said he’s enjoyed racing at Plainridge Park and pointed out what a great program the breeders have there as it offers competitive premium values without having to face the very toughest two and three-year-olds in the country week in and week out.
“The Massachusetts Sire Stakes is a great series and one that is growing. The money is excellent and that’s great for the guys up there. It makes a lot of sense to have your mare in residency up there and have that dual eligibility because right now there still isn’t a ton of horses being bred there like in many other jurisdictions so there is still a lot of opportunity. With the stakes in New York and New Jersey getting tougher and tougher each year, Massachusetts is a place where you can still make a lot of money without having to face the top-top horses each week,” Gingras concluded.
Post time for the first of two non-betting stakes on Monday is 1:30 p.m. The pari-mutuel card starts at 2 p.m. and features the other six events.
(With files from Standardbred Owners of Massachusetts)