This year's $2.4 million Massachusetts Breeders Stakes kicked off at Plainridge Park on Monday (Sept. 29) and featured 2-year-old state-breds of both gaits and genders.
The card included two stakes and two track records being achieved, five new lifetime marks set and a hat trick for driver Yannick Gingras.
The day started with two non-betting events.
The first was the lone $75,000 division for 2-year-old trotting colts and geldings where Mother's Moni (International Moni-Mother Theresa) tied the stakes record for 2-year-old male trotters (Belmondo 1:55) and broke the track record for 2-year-old trotting colts (Inter Mischief 1:55 4/5) after a very strong performance.
Geologic (Yannick Gingras) took an early lead before Mother's Moni (Brett Beckwith) brushed by him at the quarter and then controlled the race from there. They reached the half in 57 4/5, and when they got to three-quarters, the top two trotters had pulled away from the field. Mother's Moni continued to lead to the top of the stretch where Gingras tipped Geologic to challenge. However, Mother's Moni rebuffed that rush and got home on top by two lengths in 1:55, which was a new lifetime mark.
Mother's Moni is owned and was bred by K R Breeding and is trained by Domenico Cecere.
Next was the first $45,000 division of 2-year-old pacing fillies, and Perfect Lynn (Perfect Sting-Meghan Lynn) set a new stakes and track record in a very close finish.
Perfect Lynn (Yannick Gingras) got away second behind Two Twenty Swift (Brett Beckwith) and contently sat there through quarters of 27 4/5, 56 2/5 and 1:24 3/5 and then all around the last turn. At the top of the stretch, Gingras tipped Perfect Lynn and took direct aim at Two Twenty Swift. The two fillies matched strides to the line where Perfect Lynn won by a head in a lifetime-best 1:52 2/5.
Perfect Lynn is owned and was bred by Thomas and Scott Dillon and is trained by Ron Burke.
The previous stake and track record for a 2-year-old pacing filly was 1:52 4/5 set by Purameri.
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Next up was the first $45,000 division of trotting fillies where R Candy (Walner-Lovely Lindy) scored a sweet victory.
R Candy (Yannick Gingras) led to the quarter before the parked-out Adios My Lindy (Bruce Ranger) made a power move to the top and reached the half in 58 1/5. That's where the race got interesting, as R Candy and Lindy In My Dreams (Brett Beckwith) both pulled and went around Adios My Lindy and initiated a match race for the final quarter. The two trotters strode quickly around the last turn and were neck and neck to the line where R Candy got the edge by three-quarters of a length in 1:55 2/5.
R Candy ($6.20) is leased by M&L De/Armitage Farm and trained by Linda Toscano. R Candy was bred by K R Breeding.
Then it was the first $45,000 division of pacing colts and geldings where Hard To Forget scored his first lifetime victory.
Altair Blue Chip (Jimmy Whittemore) and Coach Cry (Bruce Ranger) traded leads twice before Altair Blue Chip led the field to the half in 57 2/5. Positions remained unchallenged until five-eighths where Hard To Forget (Matty Kakaley) pulled first-over from third and moved into second around the turn. At the top of the stretch, Kakaley gave Hard To Forget his head, and the colt responded well by pulling away by 3 1/4 lengths to win in 1:54 2/5, taking his first lifetime mark.
Hard To Forget ($2.10) is owned and bred by Fiddler's Creek Stables and trained by Travis Alexander.
The second $45,000 division of trotting fillies went next, and Fairytale Moni (Ready For Moni-Dream Chapter) could not be beat in a photo finish.
Elqueen (Brett Beckwith) took a quick early lead and kept it to the quarter, but Fairytale Moni (Nick Graffam) brushed to the top in front of the stands. Fairytale Moni reached the half in a mild 59 seconds flat, but picked up the tempo with a 28 2/5 third panel as Elqueen lurked from the pocket and pulled to attack in the turn. After Elqueen neared Fairytale Moni, the fillies trotted in step through the bend and all the way to the line, but Fairytale Moni would not be denied and won by a head in a career-best 1:55 4/5.
Fairytale Moni ($4.80) is owned by George Ducharme Stable, Jim Winske, Jason Ash and Sal Vullo and trained by George Ducharme. Moni Maker Stable and Christina Takter bred Fairytale Moni.
The second $45,000 filly pacing group then went to post with Vainglorious (Bettor's Delight-Bronskimackenzie) doing the best work in the lane.
Forwhomthebelltolls (Matty Kakaley), Bettor's Gold (Nick Graffam) and Vainglorious (Drew Monti) got away in that order and remained that way through quarters of 29, 59 3/5 and 1:28. At three-quarters, Vainglorious had been put into play on the outside and drew alongside Forwhomthebelltolls in the turn. That battle continued into the stretch where Vainglorious paced clear by 1 3/4 lengths in 1:56.
Vainglorious ($4.20) is owned by her breeder/trainer Tahnee Camilleri, in partnership with David Kryway.
The final stake contest of the day was the second $45,000 division of pacing colts and geldings that was won by Manador (Bulldog Hanover-Count To Three), who held off a late rush to score.
Stablemates Mr. McTygue (Brett Beckwith) and Manador (Yannick Gingras) argued for the lead, with Manador taking that position past the 27 4/5 quarter. The race stayed single-file to the half in 57 1/5, but then Beantown Dragon (Nick Graffam) came first-up, pushed Manador at three-quarters and into the last turn. As the race approached the wire, three horses were closing in on Manador, but Manador refused to lose and hung on by a neck in 1.55, which was a new lifetime mark.
Manador ($2.80) is owned and bred by M&L of Delaware and trained by Melissa Beckwith.
Live racing will resume at Plainridge Park on Tuesday (Sept. 30) at 2 p.m. (EDT) when the $2.4 million Massachusetts Breeders Stakes will resume with the best state-bred 3-year-olds going postward.
There are a total of seven stake events, including one non-betting before the first race, and then races one through six on the regular betting card.
--press release (Standardbred Owners of Massachusetts)--