Plainville, MA — Plainridge Park hosted the third leg of 3-year-olds competing in the $3.2 million Massachusetts Breeders Stakes on Tuesday (Oct. 21), and pacer Courageous Warrior put on quite a show after scoring an upset and setting several records as a result.
It was the second $45,000 division of pacing colts and geldings that was won by Courageous Warrior (Hunstville-Chief Karen), who went gate to wire at 24-1.
Courageous Warrior (Matty Athearn) grabbed a quick lead and then was hounded by Seafood Neighneigh (Bruce Ranger) through a vicious :26 quarter before Seafood Neighneigh took back to sit second just before the half. Courageous Warrior then opened up a five-length lead heading up the backstretch, before Jon I Love Dat (Yannick Gingras) pulled from third and eventually caught up to be a close second at three-quarters in 1:21.3. Heading around the last turn, Jon I Love Dat continued to draft behind Courageous Warrior before pulling in the stretch, but he could not catch Courageous Warrior, who paced home clear on top by 2-1/2 lengths in 1:50.2.
The time was a new lifetime mark for Courageous Warrior, who also set a new Massachusetts Breeders Stakes record for a 3-year-old male pacer and established himself as the fastest 3-year-old pacing gelding ever bred in Massachusetts.
Courageous Warrior ($50.80) is owned by Curran Racing and Nickerson Racing, who also bred the winner in partnership with Adam Michael. Jimmy Nickerson trains the winner.
Going back to the top of the order, the first race of the day was the first $45,000 division of trotting fillies, and Tactical Moni (Tactical Landing-All Our Moni) ran her winning streak to five in a row off an easy victory.
Tactical Moni (Yannick Gingras) got away second behind Peach Cocktail (Matty Athearn), but pulled just before the quarter to take command for good. After trotting to the half in :56.1 and three-quarters in 1:24.3, Tactical Moni bolted around the far turn and quickly pulled away to an easy 4-1/2-length win in 1:53.1.
It was the third straight Mass stake victory for Tactical Moni ($2.20), who is owned and bred by Moni Maker Stable.
The next event was the first $45,000 division of pacing fillies, where Beantown Deuce (Huntsville-Don’t Think Twice) went gate-to-wire in a career-best clocking.
Beantown Deuce (Matt Kakaley) took no prisoners off the gate, going right to the front and clicking off quarters of :27.3, :56.2 and 1:24.3 with Wassail Blue Chip (Yannick Gingras) following closely in the pocket. Halfway through the last turn, Wassail Blue Chip pulled to advance and engaged Beantown Deuce at the top of the stretch. But Beantown Deuce turned that challenge away and won by 1-1/4 lengths in a lifetime best 1:52.4.
Beantown Deuce ($3.00) is owned by Michael Goldberg Racing, who also bred the filly in partnership with Andrew Harris Racing.
The second $45,000 split for trotting fillies was up next and produced another round-trip winner in Corner Store (Six Pack-Seven Eleven).
Global Heritage (Yannick Gingras) battled with Corner Store (Brett Beckwith) to the quarter before Corner Store took the lead at the :27.3 quarter. The top positions then remained the same past the half, up the backside and around the far turn before Global Heritage vacated the pocket and tried to chase down Corner Store. The pair matched strides into deep stretch, but Corner Store never gave way and won by a neck in 1:53.2.
Corner Store ($4.20) is owned by her trainer, Paul Kelley, in partnership with Matthew Lamont, Ellen Palillo and Leo Bauer.
William Johnson bred Corner Store.
Then, the second $45,000 division of pacing fillies entered the track with Beantown Roberta (Papi Rob Hanover-Ace Of Pace) pulling a 17-1 upset in her first win of the year.
Beantown Roberta (Matty Athearn) got away third as Seafood CC (Yannick Gingras) led through quarters of :28 and :57.1. As the race headed to three-quarters, Moneymakesherhappy (Brett Beckwith) brushed to the lead, but then Treacherous Idol (Nick Graffam) paced alongside around the last turn and forged ahead at the top of the stretch. But it was Beantown Roberta who shook loose in the middle of the stretch and paced home the best by a half length in 1:56.2.
Beantown Roberta ($37.20) is owned and trained by Wil Dubois.
Beantown Roberta was bred by Michael Goldberg Racing.
Then, the second $45,000 leg of pacing colts and geldings went to post with Southpaw (American Ideal-Love You Bye) scoring a dominant victory.
Southpaw (Jimmy Whittemore) was an unchallenged leader and cut fractions of :28.2, :57.2 and 1:24.4 before a challenge finally came from Digging For Gold (Nick Graffam), who pulled from third to try and challenge. Digging For Gold got to within 1-1/2 lengths of the leader at the top of the stretch, but that was as close as he’d get as Southpaw closed the deal in 1:52.4.
Southpaw ($4.80) is owned, trained and bred by his driver, Jimmy Whittemore.
The final race of the day was a single $75,000 division of trotting colts and geldings, where Te Quiero Lindy (Walner-Adios Lindy) turned an early move into his second stakes win.
Te Quiero Lindy (Tyler Miller) got away third before pulling right before the quarter to take the lead from Castle Lindy (Yannick Gingras). With Moni Man (Brett Beckwith) sitting third, Te Quiero Lindy led the pack to the half in :56.4 and three-quarters in 1:24.3. At the top of the stretch, Castle Lindy pulled and Moni Man tipped three-deep, both in chase of the leader. However the leader would not relent and held them both off to win by a half length in 1:55.
Te Quiero Lindy ($7.40) is owned by Andy Miller Stable, Patrick Hoopes and Lindy Farms of Connecticut, who also bred the winner.
The $1.2 million finals of the Massachusetts Breeders Stakes will be held at Plainridge Park on Thursday, Oct. 30.
Live racing at Plainridge Park will resume on Thursday (Oct. 23) at 2 p.m.; there will be a $1,308 carryover in the Wicked Hi-5 pentafecta in the sixth race.
Free full past performance programs and race replays for all live racing days at Plainridge Park can be found at plainridgeparkcasino.com.