Plainville, MA — The $1.4 million (est.) Massachusetts Sire Stakes kicked off its 2020 season at Plainridge Park on Sunday afternoon (Sept. 27), and a trio of 3-year-olds broke stakes records in the first of three preliminary legs.

Wyatt J established a new stakes record for sophomore pacing colts with a 1:52.1 mile in his Massachusetts Sire Stakes preliminary.

In the $29,000 male pacing division, Wyatt J (American Ideal-Think Pink) drafted third on the rail while R Maddy Blue Chip (Kevin Switzer) and Spatterdash (Mike Stevenson) traded leads before the half. Passing the five-eighths, driver Scott Zeron tipped Wyatt J and marched up the outside towards the leading Spatterdash before pacing alongside him around the last turn. At the head of the stretch, Wyatt J pulled away to a 1-3/4 length lead and won in 1:52.1, a new lifetime mark and a new stakes record for 3-year-old pacing colts.

Wyatt J ($2.20) registered his fifth win in a row for owner Ken Jacobs and trainer Linda Toscano. Lindy Farms of Connecticut bred the winner.

In the $28,000 leg for pacing fillies, She’s A Fireball (Western Maverick-Fire Can Fly) got away fourth behind the heavily favored Ry’s Red Rocket (Matty Athearn) before pulling first-over past the half to engage the leader by the three-quarter pole. From there, driver Ron Cushing urged She’s A Fireball around the final turn and all the way down the stretch and his filly out-fought a very game Ry’s Red Rocket to win by a neck in 1:54.1, another new lifetime mark and a new divisional stakes record.

She’s A Fireball ($7.40) scored her second win in her last three starts for owners Ron Cushing and Adams Racing. She’s A Fireball is trained by Heidi Gibbs and was bred by Lucia Les and Kenneth Clairmont.

Without A Warning was simply superb in her Massachusetts Sire Stakes preliminary. Tom Melanson photos.

Trotting fillies went for $29,000 in their first grouping, and Without A Warning (RC Royalty-Concentration) put on quite a show. After taking the lead at the quarter, Without A Warning was visited by stablemate Dramatra at the half and the two trotted stride for stride to the three-quarters. At that point, Without A Warning switched gears and left Dramatra in her dust. She spun off the far turn and opened up a six-length gap at the wire to win in 1:54.2. As in the previous two races, the time was a new lifetime mark for the winner and a new stakes record for sophomore trotting fillies.

Without A Warning ($2.40) gave Zeron his second win of the day. George Ducharme trains the winner of three races this season for owner-breeder Ray Campbell Jr.

Campbell and trainer Ducharme also had the winner of the $28,000 male trotting division, Double Dealing, who left from post one and led the entire race by 1-1/4 lengths before turning for home and stretching out to a four-length advantage at the beam in 1:56.1.

Double Dealing ($6.20) now has five wins on the year for his connections. Shawn Gray drove the winner.

The Massachusetts Sire Stakes continue at Plainridge Park on Monday (Sept. 28) at 2 p.m. when four divisions of 2-year-olds will vie for $114,000 in purses.