Plainville, MA — The $1.32 million finals of the Massachusetts Breeders Stakes were held at Plainridge Park on Thursday (Oct. 29) with eight divisions going postward for $165,000 each and Yannick Gingras stealing the show by winning five of them.
Included in Gingras’ five wins was the most impressive performance of the day from the 3-year-old trotting gelding, Geologic (Captain Corey-Crystalline), who, after winning his three preliminary legs, put himself in the record books as a two-time Massachusetts champion.
Mother’s Moni (Dexter Dunn) shot right to the lead while Geologic drafted in second for the mile. After getting to the half in :55.2, Mother’s Moni and Geologic separated from the field by many lengths, and after passing three-quarters in 1:22.3, it became a match race. Mother’s Moni held the lead to seven-eighths, but that’s also where Geologic came on the attack. Geologic was trotting up a storm at the top of the stretch and moved clear in mid-stretch to win handily by 3-1/2 lengths in 1:51.3, a new lifetime mark and also a track and stakes record for a sophomore trotting gelding.
Geologic ($2.40) is owned by Paul Kelley Racing, Go For Glory Stable, Matthew Lamont and VIP Internet Stable and trained by Paul Kelley. Ray Campbell Jr. bred Geologic.
The 2-year-old male trotting division was won by Once Upon Lindy (International Moni-Origin Story), who made it four straight wins in the stakes.
Two Fifty (Dunn) took the early lead as Once Upon Lindy (Gingras) was moving up on the outside. Then, just before the quarter, Two Fifty made a break and Once Upon Lindy took the lead for good. With Sparkling Lindy (Matt Kakaley) following second, Once Upon Lindy reached the half in :57.4 and three-quarters in 1:26.4. Once Upon Lindy maintained a gapped advantage around the last turn and trotted home easily to win by 2 lengths in a lifetime best 1:55.1.
Once Upon Lindy ($2.60) is owned and bred by K R Breeding and trained by Domenico Cecere.
Next up were the 3-year-old trotting fillies, and last year’s 2-year-old champion, Lindy In My Dreams (Ready For Moni-Lindy Of My Dreams), claimed the crown once again.
Lindy In My Dreams (Dunn) led the field to the quarter in :27.1 before yielding the lead to Cash Out Express (Yannick Gingras), who rushed to the front before the half. With Adios My Lindy (Brett Beckwith) sitting third, positions remained unchanged to three-quarters and around the last turn. Then, at the top of the stretch, Lindy In My Dreams tipped off the cover of Cash Out Express and trotted by the leader to win by 1-1/4 lengths in 1:52.4, which was a new lifetime mark.
Lindy In My Dreams ($15.40) is owned and bred by Lindy Farms of Connecticut and trained by Domenico Cecere.
The 2-year-old trotting fillies then took the track, and Luxe Lindy Walner-Decadence) turned a pocket ride into victory.
After several horses made breaks off the gate, Nanny’s Ce Ce (Jeff Gregory) took control as Luxe Lindy (Tyler Miller) settled in second. After passing quarters in :28.2, :58.4 and 1:27.3, Nanny’s Ce Ce and Luxe Lindy were clear of the field by 10 lengths around the last turn. When the pair entered the stretch, Luxe Lindy tipped and trotted right by Nanny’s Ce Ce by 2 lengths in 1:56.3.
Luxe Lindy ($6.20) is owned by Andy Miller Stable, Jean Goehlen, Little E and Coyote Wynd Farms and trained by Julie Miller. K R Breeding and Preferred Equine bred Luxe Lindy.
The 2-year-old pacing fillies lined up next with Lindy Believer (Captaintreacherous-Believe It’s Lindy) completing her Massachusetts Stakes grand slam to claim her crown.
There was a lot of action early as Sweetness Lindy (Mitchell Cushing), Lindy Believer (Gingras) and Griselda (Dunn) all took turns on the point before reaching the half in :55.4. Griselda then took the field up the backstretch where Lindy Believer pulled from second and flew to the front as she passed three-quarters in 1:23.4. Lindy Believer then rounded the last turn all by herself and opened up a 4-1/4-length bulge as she crossed the line first in 1:52.4.
Lindy Believer ($2.40) is owned by Engblom Farm, R A W Equine, Evans Nation and Hickory Hollow Stables. Petter Engblom trains the Lindy Farms of Connecticut-bred filly.
The 3-year-old male pacers entered the track next, and Manador (Bulldog Hanover-Count To Three) pulled a major 73-1 upset in a late rush to the wire.
Beantown Dragon (Beckwith) reached the quarter in :26.3 before Altair Blue Chip (Dunn) rushed to the front before the :55.3. half. The action continued up the backstretch, where Hard To Forget (Yannick Gingras) started rolling from fourth and took the lead on the outside as they went past three-quarters, where Manador (Nick Graffam) was still fifth. Hard To Forget put a 3-length distance between himself and the field in the last turn, but when they entered the stretch, the field was getting to him. Hard To Forget was still on top, but Mr McTygue (Matty Athearn), Alcatraz Blue Chip (Corey Callahan) and Manador were all flying late, and it was Manador out widest of all who bolted to the line first by a head in 1:54.2.
Manador ($148.20) is owned and bred by M&L of Delaware and trained by Jessica Okusko. The win by Manador also marked the 1,000th career training victory for Okusko.
The 2-year-old male pacers were next and Bacchus Blue Chip (American Ideal-Sunnynseventyfive) followed last week’s record-breaking performance with a Massachusetts championship.
Top Notch Treasure (Bruce Ranger) led to the quarter in :26.3 before Sting Me (Cushing) came flying outside to secure the front before the :54.1 half. But then Bacchus Blue Chip (Yannick Gingras) made a bid from third and was on top and pulling away at three-quarters in 1:22.3. Bacchus Blue Chip rounded the turn and entered the stretch alone, eventually winning by 4-1/4 lengths in 1:52.
Bacchus Blue Chip ($2.10) is owned by Burke Racing, Larry Karr, Libby and Purnel, and Frank Baldachino. Ron Burke trains the winner.
The final division was the 3-year-old filly pace, which was won by Vainglorious (Bettor’s Delight-Bronskimackenzie A), who moved early and late for the win.
Seafood Treasure (Bruce Ranger), Vainglorious (Dunn) and Two Twenty Swift (Gingras) all held the lead by the half, with Two Twenty Swift getting to that station first in :56.3. Two Twenty Swift was challenged by Sweet Cindy Lou (Corey Callahan) heading up the backstretch to three-quarters, which was reached in 1:24. Two Twenty Swift and Sweet Cindy Lou continued to battle in the stretch, but Vainglorious found room just before the wire and shot through to beat both by three-quarters of a length in 1:53.
Vainglorious ($12.60) is trained, bred and co-owned by Tahnee Camilleri, in partnership with David Kryway.
Racing at Plainridge Park will resume on Friday (Oct. 30) at 2 p.m.; there will be a $25,038 carryover in the Wicked Hi-5 in the sixth race. Starting Monday (Nov. 2), post time will be moved to 1 p.m. for the remainder of the meet, which concludes on Tuesday (Nov. 24).