Plainridge: Gingras hits a grand slam in Massachusetts Sire Stakes finals

It was Million Dollar Monday (Oct 24) at Plainridge Park as eight fields of finalists vied for $125,000 each to determine this year's Massachusetts Sire Stakes champions. Rain and off-going greeted the horses but outstanding performances were still put forth as the uber-competitive Massachusetts breeding program produced winners for eight different trainers representing eight different ownership groups.

The one common denominator to the day was the performance of Yannick Gingras, who for the second year in-a-row dominated the finals, winning four races to register a championship grand slam.

The following is a synopsis of the day's events and a closer look at the winners.

2-year-old Colt and Gelding Trotting Champion
Inter Mischief (International Moni-Blinded By Lindy)
Owners-Frank Chick and Jamie Lee Sullivan
Trainer-Jamie Sullivan
Driver-Kevin Switzer Jr.
Breeder-K R Breeding
Mutuel-$3.80

Te Amo Lindy (Yannick Gingras) took early control in a speedy 27 4/5 quarter while Yo Lucky Moni (Jimmy Whittemore) drafted in second. Positions remained unchanged to the half where Kevin Switzer Jr. pulled Inter Mischief from third and powered to the lead by the three-quarters in 1:27 4/5. From there, Inter Mischief was in full command and trotted under wraps to the wire on top by 2 1/2 lengths in 1:56 3/5.

2-year-old Filly Trotting Champion
Pembroke Moni (International Moni-Possessed By Lindy)
Owner-William Varney
Trainer-Mark Ford
Driver-Scott Zeron
Breeder-Lindy Farms of Connecticut
Mutuel-$5.20

The Wise One (Bruce Ranger) got off to a fast start from post eight and took the early lead, but Scott Zeron came quickly with Pembroke Moni and took the front by the 29 second quarter. Pembroke Moni continued on the front to the half where Milliondollarwall (Yannick Gingras) was charging on the outside. Milliondollarwall grabbed the front, trotted a strong 28 4/5 third quarter, and took her lead to the top of the stretch. There, Pembroke Moni came back out on the attack, took charge again, and held off a fast-closing The Wise One to win by a length in 1:57 3/5.

2-year-old Filly Pacing Champion
Dame (Dude's The Man-Seat By The Window)
Owner-Stephen Richard
Trainer-Jolene Andrews
Driver-Jim Hardy
Breeder-Stephen Richard
Mutuel-$2.40

Dame was sent right for the lead by Jimmy Hardy and took it from Seafood Beauty (Jay Randall) as they passed the quarter in a swift 27 seconds. From there, Dame led by an open length through quarters of 56 4/5 and 1:25 3/5 and extended her lead to two at the top of the stretch. Heading to the line, Dame was on cruise despite a valiant late effort from Yes I'm Hungry (Yannick Gingras) and won by 1 1/2 lengths in 1:54 3/5.

2-year-old Colt and Gelding Pacing Champion
Rooster Bennett (So Surreal-Teddy Ballgirl)
Owner-Nancy Longobardi and Domenic Longobardi
Trainer-George Ducharme
Driver-Yannick Gingras
Breeder-Nancy Longobardi and Domenic Longobardi
Mutuel-$3.40

Good Will Lindy (Shawn Gray) and Rooster Bennett (Yannick Gingras) argued for the front off the gate, with the latter getting the lead by the quarter in 26 4/5. As a torrential downpour was in progress, Rooster Bennett continued to the half in 56 on top by three lengths as Good Will Lindy started to lose touch. At that point Kevin Switzer Jr. tipped Luke McGook from third and started to close the gap. Luke McGook caught up with Rooster Bennett around the last turn, and the pair squared off down the lane. However, Rooster Bennett swelled up, pulled away, and won by 2 1/2 lengths in 1:54 3/5.

3-year-old Filly Trotting Champion
Dancin On The Wall (Walner-Lovely Lindy)
Owner-K R Breeding
Trainer-Domenico Cecere
Driver-Yannick Gingras
Breeder-K R Breeding
Mutuel-$4.20

Yannick Gingras left with Dancin On The Wall from post seven and settled in third as Just Liv Broadway (Luke Hanners) took the field to the quarter in 28 seconds. Positions remained unchanged to the half, but Gingras went on the offensive with Dancin On The Wall and was moving up the outside towards the leader. The two trotters engaged up the backside with a 28 2/5 third panel, continued around the last turn and into the stretch where Dancin On The Wall got the advantage and the win by one-half length in 1:56 1/5.

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3-year-old Colt and Gelding Pacing Champion
Striking Impact (Always B Miki-Aunt Caroline)
Owner-Fox Racing, Nickerson Racing and Drew Monti
Trainer-Candace Brandstatter
Driver-Yannick Gingras
Breeder-Lindy Farms of Connecticut
Mutuel-$5.80

It was a three horse charge for the lead that eventually saw Striking Impact (Yannick Gingras) take command in 26 2/5, but control was soon turned over to Treacherous Tom (Bruce Ranger) in front of the stands, and Treacherous Tom kept the pace brisk with a 55 2/5 half. Motoring up the backside, Treacherous Tom took a three length lead on Striking Impact, who himself broke away from the field by four lengths. As they entered the stretch, Treacherous Tom was still in control, but Gingras tipped Striking Impact and drove him hard all the way to the wire where he caught the favorite and won by one-half length in 1:53 1/5 to become a two-time Massachusetts Sire Stake champion.

3-year-old Colt and Gelding Trotting Champion
Bill Bauer (E L Titan-Miss Flaggy Meadow)
Owner-Paul Kelley, Joseph Palillo and Ellen Palillo
Trainer-Paul Kelley
Driver-Yannick Gingras
Breeder-East Pond Stable
Mutuel-$2.60

Moni's Heaven Cent (Jay Randall), Strongerwithlindy (Steve Smith) and Bill Bauer (Yannick Gingras) got away one-two-three in the field of seven and remained that way to the half in 58 1/5. Gingras tipped Bill Bauer from third heading into the backstretch, drew alongside Moni's Heaven Cent, and the match race was on. The pair went stride-for-stride around the last turn and into the stretch, and despite Moni's Heaven Cent's best effort, Bill Bauer muscled to the lead. He went on to tally by three-quarters of a length in a lifetime-best 1:56 and became the second two-time Massachusetts Sire Stake champion of the afternoon.

3-year-old Filly Pacing Champion
Dudes Sweet Bet (Dude's The Man-Sweet Bettor)
Owner-Salvatore Vullo, Chris Lems and James De Armond
Trainer-Jessica Okusko
Driver-John MacDonald
Breeder-Triple C Stables and Chris Lems
Mutuel-$4.00

John MacDonald left with Dudes Sweet Bet and took the lead from the pylon-starting Wolverina (Nick Graffam), but Graffam was out and rolling almost immediately before the 27 1/5 quarter and had to work hard to gain control in front of the stands. Positions settled for the half until Shakeitoffscarlet (Kevin Switzer Jr.) came roaring first-over and pushed Wolverina to a 27 4/5 third quarter. That challenge lasted until the top of the stretch when Shakeitoffscarlet faded and Dudes Sweet Bet popped the deuce. After angling out, she ran down Wolverina at the wire to win by two lengths in 1:54 3/5.

--press release (Standardbred Owners of Massachusetts)--