by Paul Verrette, for Plainridge Racecourse

Plainville, MA — Champions in seven different divisions were crowned on Tuesday afternoon (September 27) as Plainridge Racecourse and the Standardbred Owners of Massachusetts presented the Massachusetts Sires Stake finals at the Bay State track.

A pair of sophomores completed sweeps in the three week long Sires Stake program. After winning both preliminary legs, Dancing Jessie (Perry Simser) finished off the hat trick when she overcame an early misstep and won the $26,382 final for three-year-old trotting fillies. Dancing Jessie was bred and is owned by Cliff Morcum of Belchertown, Massachusetts.

It was a similar story for the pacer Download. Paul and Rosalie Vacca’s colt won the $21,100 final for three-year-old colts and geldings. Jim Hardy was in the bike again this week, as Download won his third consecutive MSS event. CD Burner (John MacEachern) finished second, while Good Luck Charm (John Distefano) was third.

Four horses that had been unbeaten in the preliminary legs were defeated in their respective final events. In the $21,200 final for two-year-old trotting fillies, DD’s Bambino (John Distefano) prevailed, holding off a late challenge from BJ Rosey (Bonnie Rush). Hasti Hazel, who had won both legs, finished third. DD’s Bambino is owned by John Distefano of Greenfield, Massachusetts.

In the $26,829 final for three-year-old trotting colts and geldings, Kosmos Jazz (Brad Irvine) scored a gate-to-wire victory for owner Ival Cianchette of Falmouth, Maine. Sami’s Comet (John Distefano) finished second, while Ray Of Joy, the winner of the two preliminary legs, was third.

Jim Hardy scored his second driving victory in Sires Stake action when Too Much Wine won the $21,200 final for two-year-old pacing colts. Gemstone Star (Ted Higgins) finished second, while Jet Stream Playboy, who had been an impressive victor in this division the past two weeks, refused the gate. Too Much Wine, a son of Jet Laag, is owned by the Pine Vue Stables of Palm Beach Gardens, Florida.

Though driver Hardy had earlier tallied a pair of driving victories in stake final events, his bid for an MSS hat trick was thwarted in the most thrilling race of the afternoon, the $22,000 final for three-year-old pacing fillies. Hurricane Emily (Mike Graffam) grabbed the lead leaving the gate, and Hardy was in the two hole with Midnight Jogger, who had won both preliminary legs. Several times during the mile Hardy engaged Graffam, but was unable to overtake the front runner. Under the wire Hurricane Emily was a half length ahead of KC’s Jewel (Bob Tisbert) while Midnight Jogger was third, three parts of a length back. Mike Graffam’s brother Jeffrey owns Hurricane Emily.

In the $22,000 final for two-year-old pacing fillies, heavily favored Mystic Beach (Roland Sears) repeated her impressive effort of last week and was a five-plus length winner. The daughter of Matt’s Scooter is owned by the partnership of Enos Van Stanhope and Roland Sears. In the fierce battle for the second spot, it was the father getting schooled by the son, as Appletini (Kevin Switzer, Jr.) rallied to grab the place position, a length and half better than third place finisher Heather K (Kevin Switzer, Sr.).