Plainville, MA — Heavy morning rains cleared just before post time at Plainridge Park on Monday (Oct. 20) as the third leg of 2-year-old state-bred trotters and pacers took the track for their share of the $3.2 million Massachusetts Breeders Stakes.
Driver Brett Beckwith was the star of the afternoon, winning four of the seven events, including a natural hat trick With his first three steers.
On the track, one horse remained unbeaten in the series, three others got their first wins and two took new lifetime marks. And seven different sires witnessed their prodigies visit the winner’s enclosure.
The first of two non-betting races was the first $45,000 division of pacing fillies that was won by Perfect Lynn (Perfect Sting-Meghan Lynn), who remained perfect in this series.
Perfect Lynn (Yannick Gingras) got away third, but took the lead from Vainglorious (Drew Monti) as they passed the stands on the way to the half. Perfect Lynn then picked up the pace with a :27.2 third panel, rounded the last turn and held off Vainglorious by three-quarters of a length in 1:54.2.
It was the third straight Mass stake victory for Perfect Lynn, who is owned and bred by Tom Dillon and Scott Dillon and trained by Ron Burke.
The second $45,000 division of pacing fillies followed with Two Twenty Swift (Huntsville-Jag Out) swooping the field for her second straight win.
Forwhomthebelltolls (Kevin Switzer Jr.) led through early fractions of :27.4 and :58 before Two Twenty Swift (Brett Beckwith) moved first-over passing the half, and cleared at three-quarters. Two Twenty Swift then opened up a three length lead in the turn and cruised home to an easy victory in 1:55.
Two Twenty Swift is owned by Donald Mac Rae and Beasty and trained by Debbie Daguet.
Ross Bonafield bred Two Twenty Swift.
The first betting event was also the first $45,000 division of trotting fillies and Lindy In My Dreams (Ready For Moni-Lindy Of My Dreams) claimed her first Massachusetts stake win.
In a reversal of strategy, Lindy In My Dreams (Brett Beckwith) was sent right to the front and led from gate to wire. After marching off quarters of :28.4, :58.4 and 1:27 with R Candy (Yannick Gingras) drafting in the pocket, Lindy In My Dreams turned for home and held off the fast-closing Fairytale Moni (Nick Graffam) to win by three-quarters of a length in 1:55.2.
Lindy In My Dreams ($4.80) is owned and bred by Lindy Farms of Connecticut and trained by Domenico Cecere.
The first $45,000 division of pacing colts and geldings went next with Hard To Forget (American Ideal-Nota Fool Bluechip) coming up with a powerful win.
Altair Blue Chip (Jimmy Whittemore) led to the half in :56 before Alcatraz Blue Chip (Heath Campbell) came first-up with Hard To Forget (Brett Beckwith) right in his back. Alcatraz Blue Chip cleared before three-quarters, but Hard To Forget continued on and took the lead from him as they entered the turn. Hard To Forget then took control from there with a confident stride as he headed down the lane to win in 1:54.3 victory.
Hard To Forget ($2.40) is owned and bred by Fiddler’s Creek Stables and trained by Travis Alexander.
One group of colt and gelding trotters vied for $75,000 in the next event and Geologic (Captain Corey-Crystalline) got his first Massachusetts stake win in a career best clocking.
Mother’s Moni (Brett Beckwith) and Geologic (Yannick Gingras) lined up one-two and broke away from the field by the time they reached the half in :57.4. The gap widened as Mother’s Moni and Geologic passed three-quarters and it looked like the leader was the one to beat. But just before coming out of the last bend, Mother’s Moni made a break, leaving Geologic all alone on top and he trotted home peerless by 22 lengths in 1:56.3, taking a new lifetime mark.
Geologic ($7.80) is owned by his trainer Paul Kelley, in partnership with Go For Glory Stable and VIP Internet Stable.
Ray Campbell Jr. bred Geologic.
The second $45,000 division of pacing colts and geldings went next with another first-time stake winner, Beantown Dragon (Fear The Dragon-Ace Of Pace), getting the job done.
Beantown Dragon (Nick Graffam) and Daytoremember (Heath Campbell) traded leads to the quarter with Beantown Dragon gaining control before the half. After passing that station in :58 flat, Beantown Dragon fought off Ralphneddie (Kevin Switzer Jr.) going to three-quarters and then Mr. McTygue (Brett Beckwith) all the way down the stretch to win by a neck in a lifetime best, 1:57.1.
Beantown Dragon ($2.60) is owned and bred by Michael Goldberg Racing.
Finally, the second $45,000 split for trotting fillies went to post with Cash Out Express (International Moni-Maliziosa) got her second straight stake win.
Elqueen (Nick Graffam), Divine Melody (Frank Affrunti) and Cash Out Express (Brett Beckwith) were strung three across the track through the first turn until Cash Out Express took the lead passing the :28 first quarter. With her stablemate Elqueen in the pocket, Cash Out Express turned in solid fractions of :57.1 to the half and 1:26 to three-quarters as the top two separated from the field. When they turned for home, Cash Out Express opened up a gapped-length advantage and won wrapped-up in 1:55.2.
Cash Out Express ($2.60) is owned by her trainer, George Ducharme, in partnership with James De Armonde, Jim Winske and Sal Vullo.
Live racing will resume at Plainridge Park on Tuesday (Oct. 21) at 2 p.m. and will feature the third leg of the $3.2 million (est.) Massachusetts Breeders Stakes. Seven fields of state-bred 3-year-olds will go postward to make their final plays to qualify for the $1.2 million finals that will be held on Thursday (Oct. 30)
Free full past performance programs and race replays for all live racing days at Plainridge Park can be found at plainridgeparkcasino.com.