Plainville, MA — The third leg of the Massachusetts Breeders Stakes for 3-year-olds was held at Plainridge Park on Tuesday (Oct. 15), featuring a total of $305,000 in purses.
The team of driver Yannick Gingras, trainer Ron Burke, and owners Tom and Scott Dillon combined to win two of the five races contested.
The $75,000 division of pacing colts and geldings experienced continued domination by Rocknroll Lou (Sweet Lou-Beautiful Lady), who claimed his third straight stakes win at Plainridge.
Gingras took off the gate and sat third with Rocknroll Lou as O’er The Ramparts (Brett Beckwith) set solid fractions of :26.2 and :55.2 to the half. That’s where Rocknroll Lou made his move and cleared the front before the race reached three-quarters. From there, Rocknroll Lou was driven confidently to the line on top by 2-1/4 lengths in 1:51.4.
Rocknroll Lou ($2.10) is owned by Thomas and Scott Dillon and trained by Ron Burke. Lester Gelardi and Anthony Passafaeo bred Rocknroll Lou.
In the first of two $40,000 filly paces, Every Man’s Dream (Always B Miki-Lindy’s Nightmare) handily scored her third consecutive MBS win and gave Gingras, Burke and the Dillons their first of two winners.
Beantown Ace (Nick Graffam) was the leader at the :28.3 quarter, but Yannick Gingras pulled Every Man’s Dream from third in front of the grandstand and took the lead before the :57.3 half. From there, Every Man’s Dream was in complete control and cruised to a 4-3/4-length victory in 1:53.4 in the non-betting event.
Lindy Farms of Connecticut bred the winner.
The second $40,000 group of pacing fillies saw Real Shady Lady (So Surreal-Eyemajet) capture her first MBS win of the year.
Shawn Gray and Real Shady Lady led from the start and set fractions of :28.3 and :59 before Valentine Rose (Matty Athearn) pulled first-over from third to press the issue at three-quarters in 1:28. Valentine Rose matched strides with Real Shady Lady around the last turn and down the stretch, but she could not catch the leader, as Real Shady Lady hung on to a three-quarter-length lead to win in 1:56.2.
Real Shady Lady ($2.80) is owned, trained and bred by Alicia Gray
Next came the trotting fillies, who vied for $75,000, and Treatyofversailles (International Moni-Birthright) backed up her big effort last week with another impressive victory.
Bruce Ranger wasted no time sending Treatyofversailles to the front and called all the shots from there. After setting fractions of :28.4, :58.2 and 1:27.1, Treatyofversailles turned back challenges from Dawn Of Lindy (Yannick Gingras) and International Gift (Scott Zeron) to win by two lengths over Sassy Zaza (Brett Beckwith) in 1:56.
Treatyofversailles ($2.80) is owned and bred by Lindy Farms of Connecticut and trained by Domenico Cecere.
The final competition of the day was the $75,000 colt and gelding trot, where Keep Asking (Chapter Seven-Sensibility) made quick and easy work of the competition.
Scott Zeron and Keep Asking left like a bullet off the gate and set up shop on the point. With International Law (Marcus Miller) positioned perfectly in second, Keep Asking tripped the timers in :28.1, :57.4 and 1:26 with no opposition from behind. In the final bend, Keep Asking and International Law separated from the field and entered the stretch to settle the score. In the stretch, Keep Asking kept giving and held off International Law by 1-1/4 lengths in 1:54.1.
Keep Asking ($2.40) is owned by breeders Bill Donovan, Joe Sbrocco and Jim Winske in partnership with trainer George Ducharme.
The finals of the Massachusetts Breeders Stakes will be held on Thursday (Oct. 24) at Plainridge Park.
Racing resumes at Plainridge Park on Thursday (Oct. 17) at 2 p.m.; there will be a $2,392 carryover in the Wicked Hi-5 in race six.