Plainville, MA — After two of the best trotters in North America hooked up in an epic fourth quarter match race, It’s Academic successfully defended his title by winning his second straight $250,000 Spirit of Massachusetts Trot at Plainridge Park on Sunday (July 21) afternoon.

It’s Academic became just the second horse to repeat in the Spirit of Massachusetts on Sunday. Tom Melanson Photo.

After a three-horse tussle off the gate, Logan Park (Doug McNair) found his way to the front in a blistering :25.4. With Chapercraz (Yannick Gingras) in the pocket and Take All Comers (Todd McCarthy) sitting third, Logan Park kept the mile moving with a :54.1 half. At that station, Miller called on It’s Academic and the pair rolled out from fourth and made their way towards the leader.

It’s Academic drew alongside Logan Park at three-quarters and it was on from there between the 2023 older trotters of the year from the U.S. and Canada. Logan Park and It’s Academic matched strides around the final bend and into the stretch, but neither had gotten a clear advantage. However, as they moved into deep stretch, It’s Academic swelled up and trotted away from Logan Park while keeping stablemate Chapercraz at bay to win by a length in 1:51.2.

It’s Academic joins Manchego as the only two-time and back-to-back winners of the Spirit of Massachusetts Trot.

It was the first win in only two 2024 starts for It’s Academic ($8.00) who has now gone over $2.4 million in lifetime earnings. The 7-year-old son of Uncle Peter-Annapolis is owned by Bradley Grant and trained by Ron Burke.

It’s Academic was the second win of the day for Miller.

Sylvia Hanover Powers to Clara Barton victory

Heavily favored Sylvia Hanover made short work of her foes in the Clara Barton. Tom Melanson Photo.

The secondary featured $100,000 Clara Barton distaff pace was won by the heavily backed Sylvia Hanover (Tim Tetrick) after she made a strong statement rolling past the quarter.

Always B Naughty (Yannick Gingras) grabbed the early lead while Beach Cowgirl (Dave Miller) pushed the issue from the outside as they tripped the quarter in :26.3. But almost immediately after they passed that station, Tetrick had Sylvia Hanover out and pacing three-wide from third and the mare took the lead in front of the grandstand.

As they moved out of turn two and onto the backstretch, Talk Curdy To Me (Todd McCarthy) quickly moved into second while Grace Hill followed and dropped in third as they hit three-quarters in 1:21.1. Sylvia Hanover maintained a two length lead around that final bend, dug in for the home stretch and turned back all comers as she hit the wire on top by 1-3/4 lengths in 1:48.2, just one-fifth of a second off both her lifetime mark and the stake record.

The win with Sylvia Hanover gave Tetrick his fifth Clara Barton victory in five Clara Barton starts. Tetrick has won twice with both Shartin N and Lyons Sentinel.

Sylvia Hanover ($2.40) has now earned in excess of $1.6 million lifetime on the strength of her 19 wins. The 4-year-old daughter of Always B Miki-Shyaway is owned by Hudson Standardbred Stable and trained by Mark Steacy.

Tetrick had a driving double on Sunday as well.

Also on the card was the $75,000 Bert Beckwith Memorial Invitational Pace that was won by Big Skewy N (Drew Monti), who made a first-over move from third past the half to take the lead by three-quarters. From there, Big Skewy N maintained his lead around the turn and into the stretch where he paced away to a two length win in 1:49.1, tying his lifetime mark.

Big Skewy N ($5.20) is owned by Arrhythmic and trained by Scott Blackler.

Monti joined Miller and Tetrick with two wins of his own.

Live racing resumes at Plainridge Park on Monday (July 22) with post time at 4 p.m.