Plainridge: Grand Slam for Gingras in Massachusetts Breeders Stakes

There was $330,500 in purse money up for grabs on Tuesday (Oct, 6) as the $3.2 million (est.) Massachusetts Breeder Stakes continued the second week of action at Plainridge Park. Tuesday showcased the 3-year-old class of Mass-breds in six divisions, two each for pacers of both genders, while the trotters went one race each per gender.

Highlights from the competition included Yannick Gingras winning four of the six stakes, four horses winning for the second straight week, two more lifetime marks were set and a stake record was also tied.

The first group of filly pacers kicked off the afternoon for $42,000, and Vaingloroious (Bettor's Delight-Bronskimackenzie A) got back to her winning ways with an impressive victory.

Ideal Lilly (Shawn Gray) struck the front first and reached the quarter in 28 seconds, but Vainglorious (Dexter Dunn) was not content sitting third and bolted to the lead as they passed the stands. Vainglorious then set even fractions of 56 3/5 to the half and 1:24 2/5 to three-quarters as Ideal Lilly chased from the pocket and Daisy Dudes (Matthew Athearn) closed sharply on the outside into second. Positions remained unchanged around the last turn and into the stretch where Vainglorious was a wrapped-up winner by 4 1/4 lengths in 1:52 2/5.

Vainglorious ($2.10) is trained, was bred and is co-owned by Tahnee Camilleri, in partnership with David Kryway.

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Later, the second group of fillies vied for $42,400 with Two Twenty Swift (Huntsville-Jag Out) making a repeat stake visit to the winner's circle.

Seafood Treasure (Bruce Ranger) got to the front quickly, but was just as quickly challenged by Two Twenty Swift (Yannick Gingras) for the lead as they passed the quarter in 27 2/5. Two Twenty Swift set up shop on top and rationed out the speed from there with back-to-back 28 2/5 quarters. As the race moved onto the far turn, Sweet Cindy Lou (Corey Callahan) was pressing in the breeze while Seafood Treasure was still following closely in the pocket. When the three horses turned for home, Two Twenty Swift edged away by 1 3/4 lengths and won in 1:51 4/5, home in 27 3/5.

Two Twenty Swift ($2.10) is owned by Donald MacRae and Beasty and trained by Debbie Daguet. Ross Bonafield was the winning breeder.

The first set of male pacers lined up for $42,800 in purses, and Hard To Forget (American Ideal-Nota Fool Bluechip) made it two straight wins in Mass stake competition.

Hard To Forget (Yannick Gingras) got away fourth as Beantown Dragon (Brett Beckwith) led through splits of 27 3/5 and 56 1/5. As the race headed up the backstretch, Hard To Forget tipped-out first-over and made his way to the lead as they passed three-quarters. From there, Hard To Forget had a clear lead, but had to fend off a late-closing Mr. McTygue (Mattey Athearn), which he did by 1 1/4 lengths at the line in 1:51 4/5.

Hard To Forget ($2.80) is owned and was bred by Fiddler's Creek Stable and is trained by Travis Alexander.

The second group competed for $42,800 with Altair Blue Chip (Lazarus N-Lilly Sweet Sue) scoring in a career-best effort.

Alcatraz Blue Chip (Matty Athearn) shot to the lead and carried the group to the quarter in 27 3/5, but as they were passing that station, Altair Blue Chip (Dexter Dunn) was out and passing Alcatraz Blue Chip in front of the stands, where he took the lead for good. Altair Blue Chip paced sharply to three-quarters as Beantown Miki (Corey Callahan) was challenging from the outside and Alcatraz Blue Chip continued to track from the pocket. As the field came off the turn and headed for home, Alcatraz Blue Chip found room on the pegs and made up ground quickly on the leader, but Altair Blue Chip would not relent and hung on to win by one-half length in 1:52 3/5, taking a new lifetime mark.

Altair Blue Chip ($2.80) is owned by Michael Miller, trained by Jimmy Whittemore and bred by Blue Chip Bloodstock.

The last two events of the day were the trots, with the fillies lining up first for $81,000, and Cash Out Express (International Moni-Maliziosa Lindy) made it two in-a-row while taking a new career mark.

Adios My Lindy (Brett Beckwith) led Lindy In My Dreams (Dexter Dunn) and Cash Out Express (Yannick Gingras) through quarters of 28 seconds and 56 1/5 before the challenge from Cash Out Express presented itself, as she was out and rolling past the half. Cash Out Express made her way to second in the breeze at three-quarters and then matched strides with Adios My Lindy around the last turn. When they straightened for home, Cash Out Express turned away Adios My Lindy while also holding the late-closing Lindy In My Dreams to win by three-quarters of a length in a lifetime-best 1:53 2/5.

Cash Out Express ($3.20) is owned by her trainer, George Ducharme, in partnership with James DeArmond, Jim Winske and Sal Vullo. Lindy Farms of Connecticut bred the winner.

Then the male trotters entered the track last for $79,500, and Geologic (Captain Corey-Crystalline) tripped-out to his second straight Mass stake win in a thrilling finish and tied his own stake record set last week.

Mother's Moni (Dexter Dunn) got away quickly and watched as Geologic (Yannick Gingras) dropped into the garden spot as they rolled past the quarter in a quick 26 4/5. With Brewster Baker (Brad Irvine) trotting a close third, Mother's Moni reached the half in 55 3/5 and then moved onto the backstretch. As the trotters raced to three-quarters, Mother's Moni and Geologic started to pull away from the field as they posted a 28 3/5 third panel. Then, about halfway through turn three, Geologic angled off the pegs and took dead-aim at Mother's Moni as they were heading towards the stretch. Mother's Moni and Geologic matched strides down the lane until Geologic pulled ahead by 1 1/4 lengths and won in 1:52 2/5.

Geologic ($2.40) is owned by his trainer, Paul Kelley, in partnership with Go For Glory Stable, Matthew Lamont and VIP Internet Stable. Ray Campbell Jr. was the winning breeder.

Racing will resume at Plainridge Park on Thursday (Oct. 8) at 2 p.m. (EDT).

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