Plainville, MA — Week two of 2-year-olds competing in the $3 million Massachusetts Sire Stakes at Plainridge Park got underway on Tuesday afternoon (Oct. 3), and Rocknroll Lou (Sweet Lou-Beautiful Lady) made history in three different categories with an impressive effort in the $75,000 division for male pacers.
Yannick Gingras got away third with Rocknroll Lou, but pulled early at the three-eighths to take the lead from Poverty Sucks (Nick Graffam) in front of the stands. When he crossed over, he was already on top by three lengths as Gingras had him revved up and rolling onto the backstretch. Rocknroll Lou paced his third quarter in :27.2, and it was clear he was on a mission. When he turned for home, Rocknroll Lou was under Gingras wraps and tripped the timer in 1:53.1. The clocking was a new lifetime mark for Rocknroll Lou, and it also broke the Plainridge Park track record and the Massachusetts Sire Stakes record for a 2-year-old pacing gelding.
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It was the second straight MASS win for Rocknroll Lou ($2.10), who is owned by Thomas and Scott Dillon and trained by Ron Burke. Rocknroll Lou, now the fastest rookie pacing gelding ever bred in Massachusetts, was bred by Lester Gelardi Jr. and Anthony Passafaro.
Burke, Gingras and Team Dillon also dominated the $75,000 pacing filly division with Every Mans Dream (Always B Miki-Lindy’s Nightmare), who was another runaway winner for her connections in an early non-betting event.
Gingras floated Every Mans Dream on the outside into fifth while Beantown Ace (Nick Graffam) and Who’s Perfect (Heath Campbell) shuffled for the front. Once that dust settled, Every Mans Dream switched gears and bolted to the lead and full control at the :57 half. Gingras grabbed leather in the third quarter as only the pocket-sitting Beantown Ace was close. But when Gingras hit the last turn, he gave Every Mans Dream her head, and she flew home in :27.3 to win by six lengths in 1:53.3.
It was the second straight MASS win and the sixth win of the year for Every Mans Dream.
Filly trotters also went one division for $75,000 and Gingras completed his stakes triple with Dawn Of Lindy (Walner-Moni From Heaven), who got a second MASS win and matched her lifetime mark in the process.
Dawn Of Lindy left from post seven and dropped in fourth as Pembroke Breeze (Heath Campbell) made her way to the half in :59.2. With no one pulling right lines, Gingras made the first move and flushed The Great CB (Steve Smith) from the pocket, giving himself cover trotting up the backside. The Great CB cleared and Dawn Of Lindy pulled alongside at three-quarters. The two trotters tangled in close proximity around the far turn and into mid-stretch, where Dawn Of Lindy started to pull away and eventually win by 2-1/4 lengths in 1:57.3.
Dawn Of Lindy ($4.00) is owned by the Paul Kelley Racing Stable, Matt Lamont, Thomas Pontone and Neil Goldstein. Paul Kelley trains the winning filly, bred by Moni Maker Stable.
Gingras added a win in an overnight event, giving him a grand slam for the day.
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The male trotters went in two $40,000 divisions, with driver Nick Graffam and trainer George Ducharme teaming up to take both splits.
First, Chasing Crystals (Six Pack-Crystalline) encroached first-over on the front-running Pembroke Will (Heath Campbell) and was closely followed by Intl Blockade (Bruce Ranger). Chasing Crystals took the lead at the top of the stretch, but had to fight off Intl Blockade all the way to the wire, where he won by a neck in 1:59.3 to take his first lifetime win.
Chasing Crystals ($33.00) is owned and bred by Ray Campbell Jr.
The second division was won by Keep Asking (Chapter Seven-Sensibility), who left, made a short break at the quarter, and then regained his composure once he got to the front. Keep Asking was then well rated by Graffam with back-to-back :29.2 quarters before opening up with a :28 closing sprint for a 2-3/4-length win in 1:56.4.
Keep Asking ($2.80) won his second straight MASS race for owner-breeders Bill Donovan, Joe Sbrocco, Jim Winske and the George Ducharme Stable.
The Massachusetts Sire Stakes will be off next week and reconvene on Monday, Oct. 16, with the third leg for eligible 2-year-olds. The 3-year-olds will follow on Tuesday, Oct. 17.
Live racing will resume at Plainridge Park on Thursday (Oct. 5) with a 2 p.m. first post and a $17,932 carryover in the Wicked Hi-5 in race six. Please note that Plainridge Park adds live racing on Friday, starting this week (Oct. 6), and will continue the Monday-Tuesday-Thursday-Friday schedule for the remainder of the meet. Post time will be at 2 p.m. through the end of October and switch to 1 p.m. for November.