by Tim Bojarski, for the Standardbred Breeders and Owners of Massachusetts

Plainville, MA — After a one week respite the Massachusetts Sire Stakes (MASS) return to action at Plainridge Park. Four freshman races totaling $163,434 go to post on Monday afternoon (Oct. 22) while five events for second-year starters totaling $163,000 will be contested on Tuesday afternoon (Oct. 23).

Nigel Soult photo

Taylor Swiftly seeks a MASS title after finishing third in the KSS final.

On Monday, one notable first time series starter in the 2-year-old trotting filly division is Lindy Farm’s bred and owned Taylor Swiftly (Trixton-True Diva) who has been campaigning in the Bluegrass State since August. There she registered three consecutive wins in the Kentucky Sire Stakes (KSS) before finishing third in the $250,000 final after cutting the mile as the heavy favorite.

Monday Taylor Swiftly has been installed as the 7-5 morning line favorite in the $40,300 second race and trainer Domenico Cecere has Scott Zeron headed to Massachusetts to pilot the filly once again.

Three two-time 2018 MASS winners are back this week trying to make it a series sweep in the other three divisions as all heads are pointed to the finals next week.

Simple Kaos (RC Royalty-Ksenia) has gone two-for-two in dominating fashion in the 2-year-old trotting colt and gelding division and is the heavy 3-5 favorite to do so once again. George Ducharme has Jimmy Whittemore in stirrup duty as normal this week.

Victorias Maverick (Western Maverick-Perfect Launch) is also unbeaten in MASS action this year, besting all 2-year-old pacing males to this point. He is 4-5 before the betting starts for trainer Valerie Grondin and driver Heath Campbell.

And Karan’s Choice (Sportswriter-Denverlove) who was a runaway winner last week against the 2-year-old pacing fillies goes for her third straight win in the lone non-betting event for trainer/driver Jim Hardy.

Post time for the non-betting race is 1:45 p.m. Post time for the first race on the regular betting card is 2 p.m. with the MASS divisions programmed as event one through three on the regular card.

The 3-year-olds return on Tuesday afternoon (Oct. 23) and four of those five races look to be very competitive battles offering betting value as well.

A close three-way contest should be between the 3-year-old pacing fillies Delco Dusty (Jereme’s Jet-Gypsys Good Girl), Rock Me Threetimes (Rock N Roll Heaven) and Gonna Hear Me Rohr (Western Maverick-Heather K).

Delco Dusty has won the first two legs of the MASS for trainer Jimmy Nickerson but Kevin Switzer’s Rock Me Threetimes came up just short last week in finishing second. And Gonna Hear Me Rohr comes in off a big 13-length romp in the Maine Sire Stakes finals last week for trainer James Dunn.

Delco Dusty (Shawn Gray) is 7-5, Gonna Hear Me Rohr (Drew Campbell) is 2-1 and Rock Me Threetimes (Mitchell Cushing) is 5-2 morning line for this race.

With the 3-year-old pacing colts and geldings having gone two divisions all three weeks, two-time winners I’m A Clown (I’m Gorgeous-Lordy Miss Scarlet) and Pembroke Pharoah (Baron Biltmore-Migraine) have not met head to head so far. However that changed this week as they drew the same division setting up a heavyweight battle worth noting.

Kevin Switzer’s I’m A Clown (Mitchell Cushing) has been made 4-5 morning line and Pembroke Pharoah (Heath Campbell) is 8-5 for trainer Valerie Grondin in what should be a very exciting match up.

In the other division of 3-year-old pacing males, Shiplap (Real Desire-Unbeachable) looks like a solid starter at 7-5 for trainer/driver Ivan Davies with Beantown Elijah (Dragon Again-Wondrous Grace) being his main rival at 9-5 for the Ducharme/Whittemore tandem.

George Ducharme also has top trotters Hashtagmadeyalook and Ithinkthatsmine in the mix with Shawn Gray sitting behind both of them once again.

Hashtagmadeyalook (Chapter Seven-Royalty Free) has gone two in a row but Domenico Cecere’s Kinda Lucky Lindy (Lucky Chucky-Kinda Crazy Lindy) has been right behind him both times by a mere head and nose. These two will hook up again and all bets are off as to who comes out on top this time.

Hashtagmadeyalook is even money going in with Kinda Lucky Lindy (Scott Zeron) rated a value at 5-2 this week.

Ithinkthatsmine (RC Royalty-Super Starlet) has been peerless among 3-year-old trotting fillies in the MASS this year, winning her first two starts by combined 11-lengths and it would appear she should not be challenged once again on Monday. This is a non-betting event that goes before the betting card starts.

Post time for the non-betting race is 1:45 p.m. Post time for the first race on the regular betting card is 2 p.m. with the MASS divisions programmed as event one through four.