Plainridge: Massachusetts Sire Stakes triple for Treacherous Tom

The third leg for 3-year-old eligibles in the $2.56 million Massachusetts Sire Stakes were held at Plainridge Park on Monday afternoon (Oct. 17), with $260,000 in purses up for grabs from four divisions valued at $65,000 each.

Treacherous Tom (Captaintreacherous-Kate Is Well Said) remained unbeaten in the MASS this year after taking his third straight win in the pacing colts and geldings division. It was raced a non-betting event held before the pari-mutuel card.

Bruce Ranger put Treacherous Tom in his favorite spot - on the point - and got things his own way from there. With no pressure from behind, he skated through quarters of 26 3/5, 56 3/5 and 1:25 before turning for home and pacing away to a 3 1/2 length win in 1:53 2/5.

It was the fourth win in-a-row and ninth overall for the year from only 11 starts for Treacherous Tom, who is owned by Tom and Scott Dillon and trained by Joe Nelson. Fashion Farms bred the winner.

The male trotters were up next and Bill Bauer (E L Titan-Miss Flaggy Meadow) is moving towards becoming a two-time MASS champion after a convincing win.

Moni's Heaven Cent (Jay Randall) took the early lead and parked Bill Bauer (Yannick Gingras) to the quarter in 28 2/5 before Gingras was able to get the trotter clear. Once he crossed over and settled in, the race was Bill Bauer's to win. Moni's Heaven Cent tracked Bill Bauer from the quarter to the top of the final turn before he tipped and put forth a solid brush against the leader. But Bill Bauer responded and trotted away to a 3 1/4 length win in a new lifetime mark of 1:56 1/5.

It was the second straight win for Bill Bauer ($2.10), who is owned by his trainer Paul Kelley in partnership with Joseph Palillo and Ellen Palillo. Bill Bauer was bred by East Pond Stable.

The filly trot was won by Moni Heist (Walner-Nothing But Moni), who took full advantage of a lot of early action to score late.

It was a four horse dash for the lead that ended up a two horse battle between Dancin On The Wall (Yannick Gingras) and the parked-out Just Liv Broadway (Luke Hanners). These two got to the quarter in 27 4/5 and continued to spar past the half and up the backside while Moni Heist (Scott Zeron) was far back in seventh. Nearing three-quarters, Wonderwall Lindy (Jay Randall) tipped three-deep around the fading Just Liv Broadway and engaged Dancin On The Wall . At the same time, Moni Heist tipped three-deep around the entire pack. At the top of the stretch, Moni Heist was rolling and went right past Wonderwall Lindy, then caught the very game Dancin On The Wall to win by a length in 1:59 in the pouring rain.

It was the first MASS win of the year for Moni Heist ($15.00), who was bred and is owned by Moni Maker Stable. Domenico Cecere trains the winner.

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As the inclement weather continued, the fourth group to line up were the pacing fillies, and Dude's Sweet Bet (Dude's The Man-Sweet Bettor) bounced back from a third-place finish last week to claim her second win in this series.

Dude's Sweet Bet (John MacDonald) got away second behind Believe It's Lindy (Bruce Ranger) while Halleysbigcomet (Drew Campbell) was parked out to the quarter in 27 4/5. With nowhere to go but forward, Campbell pushed on with Halleysbigcomet and got alongside Believe It's Lindy going to three-quarters as Dude's Sweet Bet continued to draft at the pylons. Shakeitoffscarlet (Kevin Switzer Jr.) joined the fray at the top of the stretch, and a wall of horses, three across, began the trek down the lane, leaving Dudes Sweet Bet still looking for racing room. That finally came when the pylon path came clear, and Macdonald shot through with Dudes Sweet Bet, who finished off the job by winning by 1 1/4 lengths in 1:56 1/5.

Dude's Sweet Bet ($2.80) is owned by Sal Vullo, James De Armond and Chris Lems, who bred the horse along with Triple C Stables.

All the updated points and earnings can be viewed on the Standardbred Owners of Massachusetts website (sominc.net) and Facebook page (facebook.com/massachusettssirestakes).

The top point-getters from all the preliminary legs will move forward in eight $125,000 Massachusetts Sire Stakes finals during the Standardbred Owners of Massachusetts "Million Dollar Monday," October 24. Post time for that card is 2 p.m.

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