Plainville, MA — The third division of Massachusetts Breeder Stakes for 2-year-old participants of both gaits and genders was held at Plainridge Park on Monday (Oct. 19) and multiple pages of several record books were re-written when the dust had settled for the afternoon.
There were seven stake races – split divisions for all but the male trotters – that went for a combined $335,000 in purses. Seven new lifetime marks were set along with three track records, three stake records and three horses established as being the fastest ever bred in the state of Massachusetts.
The fastest group of the day was the second group of male pacers who hit the track for $42,400 where Bacchus Blue Chip (American Ideal-Sunnynseventyfive) entered the record books on the strength of his career best outing.
Takes Courage (Matt Kakaley), Atreidis (Cory Stratton) and Bacchus Blue Chip (Yannick Gingras) all battled for the front through the :27.1 first quarter before Bacchus Blue Chip finally took the lead and dominated from there. Bacchus Blue Chip reached the half in :55.3 and three-quarters in 1:23.1, while inching away from the competition around the turn. When Bacchus Blue entered the stretch, he was in full flight and pulled away to a 4-1/2 length lead at the line where he won in 1:50.3 and set a new lifetime mark.
The time also set a new track record for a 2-year-old pacing colt, a new stake record for a 2-year-old male pacer and made Bacchus Blue Chip the fastest 2-year-old pacing colt ever bred in Massachusetts.
Bacchus Blue Chip ($2.20) is owned by Burke Racing, Larry Karr, Libby and Purnel and Frank Baldachino and trained by Ron Burke.
The first group pacing males who went for $42,400 were also record-setting as Sting Me (Perfect Sting-Gallie Onthebeach) broke all three records he set himself in week two of MASS stake action.
Sting Me (Mitchell Cushing) got away third as Top Notch Treasure (Yannick Gingras) and Bastonata Bluechip (Matt Kakaley) traded leads to the quarter in :27 flat. Bastonata Bluechip then reached the half in :56.1 before Sting Me pulled first-over and took the lead before passing three-quarters in 1:24.1. From there, Sting Me swelled up when he entered the stretch on top by four lengths and paced away by 5-1/2 at the line in 1:52.1, setting a new lifetime mark.
The time also broke the track record for 2-year-old pacing geldings, the stake record for 2-year-old male pacers (that was broken again by Bacchus Blue Chip) and lowered Sting Me’s own time as the fastest 2-year-old pacing gelding ever bred in Massachusetts.
Sting Me ($3.00) is owned by Nancy Longobardi and Domenic Longobardi and trained by George Ducharme. Blue Chip Bloodstock bred Sting Me.
The third record-breaking performance came in the first $42,800 division of pacing fillies where Lindy Believer (Captaintreacherous-Believe It’s Lindy) put in the performance of her life.
The Woman With You (Jimmy Whittemore) took the first lead and reached the quarter in :27.2. But Lindy Believer (Yannick Gingras) pulled immediately and gained control in front of the grandstand and never looked back from there. Lindy Believer passed the half in :56 and three-quarters in 1:24 before rounding the last turn. Lindy Believer entered the stretch on top by four lengths and when she straightened for home, cruised to the line in 1:52, which was a new lifetime mark.
The time also broke the track and stake record for a 2-year-old pacing filly and also made Lindy Believer the fastest 2-year-old pacing filly ever bred in Massachusetts.
Lindy Believer is owned by Engblom Farm, R A W Equine, Evans Nation and Hickory Hollow Stable and trained by Petter Engblom. Lindy Farms of Connecticut bred Lindy Believer. This was a non-betting event.
The second group of filly pacers vied for $42,800 and was won by Stayoutofmylane (Stay Hungry-Gold Orchid N), who notched her second MASS stake win.
Always B Winning (Mitchell Cushing) led to the quarter in :28.1 before Stayoutofmylane (Brett Beckwith) bolted to the front passing the stands and settled in at the half in :56.3. Stayoutofmylane continued to lead up the backstretch where Chase News Network (Nick Graffam) and Tall Dark Lindy (Michael Oosting) made outside bids before entering the last turn. When the girls straightened for home, the field was bunching. But Stayoutofmylane was best of all and won by a length in 1:53.4, which was a new lifetime mark.
Stayoutofmylane ($7.00) is owned and bred by George Ducharme Stable, Jim Winske and Dr. Megan Moschgat and trained by George Ducharme.
There were also two divisions of filly trotters, the first going for $41,600 and won by Luxe Lindy (Walner-Decadence), who scored her second straight MASS victory with a late rush.
Nanny’s Ce Ce (Jeff Gregory) out-left Ma’s Always Right (Yannick Gingras) and Luxe Lindy (Tyler Miller), who pocketed-up behind the leader before reaching the quarter in :29.1. With no movement from behind, Nanny’s Ce Ce led comfortably to the half in :58.1 and three-quarters in 1:27.1 before entering the far turn. As the race came off the far bend, Luxe Lindy tipped off the cones and bore down on Nanny’s Ce Ce, eventually trotting clear by three-quarters of a length to win in 1:55.3, which was a new lifetime mark.
Luxe Lindy is owned by Andy Miller Stable, Jean Goehlen, Little E and Coyote Wynd Farms and trained by Julie Miller. Luxe Lindy was bred by K R Breeding. This was a non-betting event.
The second split of trotting fillies went for $42,000 and was won by Beyond The Rules (Back Of The Neck-Crystalline), who registered her first career victory.
Beyond The Rules (Michael Oosting) took the lead from Halo Lindy (Tyler Miller) after passing the quarter in :29.1. Once in front, Beyond The Rules led the single-file field through even fractions of :59 and 1:28 without any challenges from behind. When she turned for home she was up by three lengths, but Beyond The Rules then blew away the field by 8-1/4 lengths in 1:56.4, taking a lifetime mark.
Beyond The Rules ($4.80) is owned by Paul Kelley Racing Stable, Ray Campbell Jr., Go For Glory Stable and Matthew Lamont and trained by Paul Kelley. Ray Campbell Jr. bred the winner.
Finally there was one division of trotting colts and geldings who raced for $81,000 and saw Once Upon Lindy (International Moni-Origin Story) win his third straight MASS leg.
Once Upon Lindy (Yannick Gingras) rolled to the lead on the outside passing the quarter in :29 flat. Once clear on the pegs, Once Upon Lindy marched smartly through quarters of :57.4 and 1:26.4 while his stablemate, Two Fifty (Brett Beckwith) followed closely. At the top of the stretch, Two Fifty tipped and tried to advance, but Once Upon Lindy was too good and won by 1-½ lengths in a career best, 1:55.2.
Once Upon Lindy ($2.60) is owned and bred by K R Breeding and trained by Domenico Cecere.
Driver Yannick Gingras scored a stake hat trick while trainer George Ducharme had two wins and was the top conditioner in the seven events.
Racing will resume at Plainridge Park on Tuesday (Oct. 20) at 2 p.m. with the third leg of the $3.2 million (est.) Massachusetts Sire Stakes for 3-year-olds being featured. There will also be a $13,461 carryover in the Wicked Hi-5 pentafecta wager in the sixth race.
Free full card past performance programs for every live card of racing at Plainridge Park can always be downloaded at their website (plainridgeparkcasino.com) under the “Racing” tab. You can also watch all the race replays on that same page.