by Tim Bojarski, for the Standardbred Owners of Massachusetts

Plainville, MA — After a two-week sabbatical, the top state bred 2-year-olds of both gaits and genders will be back in action at Plainridge Park on Monday afternoon (Oct. 23) for the third leg of the Massachusetts Sire Stakes, vying for $137,766 in purses.

Three races will go as non-betting events starting at 1 p.m. and the fourth is carded as race three on the regular card which has a 2:30 p.m. post time for the first race.

The $33,800 2-year-old filly trot features Bag O Chips (Sierra Kosmos-Heather Spur) who won the first two legs by open lengths and set a new track and stakes record of 1:57.4 for gender, age and gait. She is also the highest money winner in the race with $31,200 on the card and looks to add to her totals. Trainer George Ducharme has Chris Lems at the lines for the third straight start, leaving from post three.

Ithinkthatsmine (RC Royalty-Super Starlet), driven by Steve Smith and Jazz Me (RC Royalty-Promises Kept), driven by Jimmy Whittemore, will be the main rivals in the race. Both are also trained by Ducharme.

The $34,800 2-year-old colt and gelding trot has Kinda Lucky Lindy (Lucky Chucky-Kinda Crazy Lindy) coming in on a two-race MASS win streak as well and despite drawing post seven, looks solid to three-peat. With little inside speed, Kinda Lucky Lindy will probably set the front-end fractions again and add to his $56,508 bankroll for the year. Trainer Frank Antonacci has Plainridge Park’s leading driver Greg Merton up again in the bike.

Hashtagmadeyalook (Chapter Seven-Royalty Free) has finished second in both starts to Kinda Lucky Lindy, the last time only beaten three-quarters of a length. This will be only his third lifetime start and he has been improving each week. George Ducharme and Chris Lems team up again here from post five.

The $34,266 2-year-old filly pace features another track and stakes record holder, Delco Dusty (Jereme’s Jet-Gypsy’s Good Girl). Delco Dusty has won both of her MASS events, setting the new standard in her first start going 1:53 in the mile. She did race in an overnight at Vernon Downs last week, finishing fourth and the start was a good tightener for her coming into this event. Trainer Heidi Rohr has Greg Merton aboard as in the two previous stakes starts and they have drawn post three.

Rock Me Three Times (Rock N Roll Heaven-Love Rocks) and Momma Don’t Dance (Art Major-Mommy Robin Q) have each finished second and third one time behind Delco Dusty and will both be in hot pursuit again in this race. Rock Me Three Times drew post one for trainer Kevin Switzer and driver Shawn Gray and Momma Don’t Dance drew post six for trainer Linda Toscano and driver Steve Smith.

Finally, the $34,900 2-year-old colt and gelding pace has I’m A Clown (I’m Gorgeous-Lordy Miss Scarlet) the heavy 6-5 early favorite in the only MASS betting race of day. I’m A Clown won the first division of the series in 1:56.3 and finished second the following week to Pembroke Pharoah, who is not entered this week. I’m A Clown shipped to Harrington Raceway last week and won an overnight event and certainly looks the favorite part here, leaving from post seven for trainer Kevin Switzer and driver Shawn Gray.

CBF Real Deal (So Surreal-CBF Fancy) has a second and third in MASS action and has stayed sharp in the off weeks, finishing second twice in close finishes in overnights at Plainridge. Drawing well with post two, he looks to track the favorite with Nick Graffam steering for trainer Ralph Andersen.

Here is the remainder of the schedule for the 2017 Massachusetts Sire Stakes at Plainridge Park:

Oct. 30
3-year-old third leg

Nov. 6
2- and 3-year-old finals