The 2019 Massachusetts Sire Stakes (MASS) will get underway on Sunday (Sept. 29) at Plainridge Park when the three-year-old class of both gaits and genders take the track for their first leg.
Among the eligible sophomores, there will be three returning two-year-old champions trying to win a second title.
Three-Year-Old Pacing Colts
CBF Bantam (by Baron Biltmore) has been racing in the Maine Sire Stakes (MSS) all summer and is having a great year, currently sitting third in the points standings. So far he has five wins in that series and has only missed the board once all year. He has earned $39,323 to date and has a seasonal mark is 1:54.4 at Plainridge. He looks to improve on his third-place finish in the MASS final last year and has a much improved body of work to do it with.
CBF Bantam is trained by David Crochere.
Victorias Maverick (Western Maverick) was the two-year-old MASS champion, going undefeated in all three legs before taking the crown. Coming into this year’s first leg, Victorias Maverick has had a steady start to 2019. He has been competing in the MSS without any wins in nine starts, however he has been either second or third eight out of those nine outings.
Victorias Maverick is trained by Valerie Grondin.
Levi (Pet Rock) has raced in Ohio all year and competed in the Buckeye Stallions Series, winning at Scioto Downs in 1:53.1 and taking a second at Miami Valley Raceway in 1:52.3. He took a month off before starting at Plainridge on September 20, where he traversed Massachusetts dirt for the first time since he was second in the MASS final last year. He looks to compete fresh from that layoff.
Levi is trained by Scott Renz.
Three-Year-Old Pacing Fillies
Karans Choice (Sportswriter) was the two-year-old champion of this division in 2018 and has been racing five-year-old and under non-winner classes at ‘The Ridge’ all this year. With four wins in 13 starts, $22,924 earned and a mark of 1:54.2, Karan’s Choice has some work to do to match her $124,344 bankroll of last year. But coming into this stake will give her chance to do it.
Karans Choice who is trained by Jim Hardy.
Cominrightatyou (Western Maverick) finished second in the MASS final last year and comes into this series having competed in the MSS circuit all summer. Currently second in points there on the strength of three wins and seven board placements out of eight starts, Cominrightatyou looks to challenge for the top spot in the final here.
Cominrightatyou is trained by Heidi Gibbs.
Secure The Border (Jeremes Jet) was able to garner only minor spoils in the MASS as a two-year-old, but has upped her game this year. Scoring two wins and showing more speed as the year has progressed. After taking a mark of 1:57 at Plainridge last month she may be maturing at just the right time to take a bigger piece of the pie this year.
Secure The Border is trained by Ivan Davies.
Three-Year-Old Trotting Colts
Simple Kaos (RC Royalty) was the two-year-old champion, but has yet to find the winner's circle this year. Although he has nine seconds and thirds, the illustrious ‘W’ has evaded him so far in 2019. But that is more than likely a result of him racing aged trotters many times this summer where he finished a close second on multiple occasions timed in 1:55. His last two starts at Vernon Downs bode well for his first start in the series at Plainridge where he will once again compete among his peers.
Simple Kaos is trained by George Ducharme.
Jake Gs Champion (RC Royalty) was eligible to the New York Sire Stakes (NYSS) but only had one start in the Excelsior ‘A’ Series back in May. The rest of the year he has been racing juvenile non-winner events and has only missed one cheque in all of them. After taking a lifetime mark of 1:57.1 at Plainridge over the summer, it would appear he is ready to be more competitive in these finals than he was last year.
Jake Gs Champion is also trained by George Ducharme.
RFLs Lord Command (Royalty For Life) did not have a successful two-year-old stakes season in Massachusetts, but has come back to race strong as three. After taking a lifetime mark of 1:56 back in June and hitting the board seven out of 13 starts, RFLs Lord Command has made big strides in his development. Sporadic breaks are the only thing that still hurt his game.
RFLs Lord Command is trained by Jim Hardy.
Three-Year-Old Trotting Fillies
Evs Girl (Crazed) has been racing very successfully on the NYSS circuit, finishing first in points in the Excelsior ‘A’ division. With three wins during the year, earnings of $44,350 and a mark of 1:56.3 at Vernon Downs, Evs Girl finished third in the $55,000 final at Saratoga off a valiant effort from Post 8. The first leg of the MASS will be her first start since that final and she will be ready to roll week one.
Evs Girl is trained by owned by Julie Miller.
Crystalline (Chapter Seven) has mirrored Evs Girl this year, also competing in the Excelsior ‘A’ in New York. She won two legs, took a mark of 1:56.4 at Vernon and finished second in points going into the final where she finished fifth, beaten only three and three-quarter lengths. Crystalline will be a definite player in the MASS.
George Ducharme trains Crystalline.
Mother Teresa (Father Patrick) is very lightly raced this year and has put forth hit and miss efforts when she did. However, she also showed some good speed in the $50,000 Kentucky Sire Stakes consolation when she finished second, timed in 1:55.2. That clocking matched her lifetime best taken last year at the Red Mile. She looks to continue her forward momentum but will be a wild card coming into these first legs of the MASS.
Mother Teresa is trained by Domenico Cecere.
Just Dreamin (RC Royalty) had a couple starts in the NYSS Excelsior ‘A’ finishing third in both and she seems to have matured off that experience. She has been racing in overnights at Plainridge where she just took a lifetime mark of 1:56 two starts ago. She is very familiar with that surface and that will be a big advantage for her.
Joe Flynn trains Just Dreamin.
The complete 2019 Massachusetts Sire Stakes schedule appears below.
Sunday (Sept. 29) three-year-old First Leg $35,000 added
Monday (Sept. 30) two-year-old First Leg $35,000 added
Sunday (Oct. 6) three-year-old Second Leg $35,000 added
Monday (Oct. 7) two-year-old Second Leg $35,000 added
Sunday (Oct. 20) two-year-old Third Leg $35,000 added
Monday (Oct. 21) three-year-old Third Leg $35,000 added
Monday (Oct. 28) two- and three-year-old Finals $100,000 (est.)
(Standardbred Owners of Massachusetts)