Plainridge: Grand slam for Gingras in Massachusetts Sire Stakes

The 2-year-olds took center stage in the $2.5 million (est.) Massachusetts Sire Stakes at Plainridge Park on Monday afternoon (Sept. 26) and four of the five winners were piloted by Hall of Fame driver Yannick Gingras.

There were 11 trotting fillies who entered on Monday, so they were split into two $32,500 races. All other divisions went one race for $65,000 each.

Gingras swept both trotting filly contests, starting with Milliondollarwall (Walner-Mom's Millionaire), who took a quick lead and maintained a gapped advantage throughout. With Backstitch (Frank Affrunti) working hard to stay close in second, Milliondollarwall tripped the timer in 30, 1:00 1/5 and 1:29 3/5 before taking a three length lead into the stretch and pulling away to a five length victory in 1:59 3/5.

Milliondollarwall ($2.10) was bred and is owned by Moni Maker Stable and is trained by Domenico Cecere.

In the other split, Gingras got away second with Pembroke Moni (International Moni-Possessed By Lindy) behind The Wise One (Bruce Ranger), who got to the quarter in quick 28 4/5. Despite the fraction, Gingras was out a moving right past that station and took control in front of the stands. Dictating the second half, Pembroke Moni got a 30 1/5 breather in the third quarter and then sped away from everybody, coming home in 28 4/5 to win by 4 1/4 lengths in a new lifetime- best 1:58 flat.

Pembroke Moni ($2.20) is owned by William Varney and is trained by Mark Ford. Lindy Farms of Connecticut was the winning breeder.

Then, Gingras took the pacing colt and gelding division with Rooster Bennett (So Surreal-Teddy Ballgirl), who sat in the pocket behind Good Will Lindy (Shawn Gray) to the half in 1:02 before moving to the outside at the five-eighths. Rooster Bennett took the lead on the outside at three-quarters, but Good Will Lindy fought back to regain a head advantage in the last turn. When they hit the stretch, the two were even for about five strides, but then Rooster Bennett swelled up, paced away by two lengths, and won in 1:59 1/5.

Rooster Bennett ($2.10) was bred and is owned by Nancy Longobardi and Domenic Longobardi and is trained by George Ducharme.

Gingras completed his stake grand slam with Yes Im Hungry (Stay Hungry-Yes You Can), who worked hard to best the field of seven pacing fillies. Four horses left, with Dame (Jim Hardy) grabbing a tenuous lead and Seafood Beauty (Jay Randall) parked out second to the quarter in a fast 27 2/5. Seafood Beauty then took the lead and paced without a challenge until the three-quarters. That's where Yes Im Hungry, who had been pacing up the rim since the five-eighths, finally caught the leader. Initially, Seafood Beauty turned back the challenge in the turn, but Yes Im Hungry regrouped at the top of the stretch and then pulled away to a 1 1/4 length win in 1:56 2/5, which was a new lifetime mark in her first career win.

Yes Im Hungry ($4.60) is owned by Alagna Racing and Pryde Stables and is trained by Tony Alagna. Holland Racing Stable bred Yes Im Hungry.

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The final MASS division was for trotting colts and geldings, and a full field of nine went postward, with Inter Mischief (International Moni-Blinded By Lindy) coming out on top.

Inter Mischief (Kevin Switzer Jr.) took the lead from RLF's Jasper (Nick Graffam) just past the 28 2/5 first quarter and settled in for the duration. After getting to the half in 58 2/5, Inter Mischief was approached by Yo Lucky Moni (Jimmy Whittemore) just past the five-eighths, and the two hooked up in a battle after opening up a six length separation from the rest of the field.

Yo Lucky Moni took the lead at three-quarters, but then Inter Mischief took it back as they entered the stretch. Inter Mischief then got a length advantage and held it to the wire to win in 1:57 and take a new lifetime mark.

Owned by Frank Chick and Jamie Lee Sullivan, who also trains the colt, Inter Mischief ($4.20) was bred by K R Breeding.

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