Plainridge Park: First leg of Massachusetts Sire Stakes starts Sunday

The 2019 Massachusetts Sire Stakes (MASS) will get underway on Sunday (Sept. 29) at Plainridge Park when the 3-year-old class of both gaits and genders take the track for their first leg.

Among the eligible sophomores, there will be three returning 2-year-old champions trying to win a second title.

3-year-old pacing colts

CBF Bantam (Baron Biltmore-Cohenucopia) has been racing in the Maine Sire Stakes (MSS) all summer and is having a great year, currently sitting third in the points standings. So far he has five wins in that series and has only missed the board once all year. He has earned $39,323 to date and has a seasonal mark is 1:54 4/5 at Plainridge. He looks to improve on his third place finish in the MASS final last year and has a much improved body of work to do it with.

CBF Bantam is trained by David Crochere.

Victoria’s Maverick (Western Maverick-Perfect Launch) was the 2-year-old MASS champion, going undefeated in all three legs before taking the crown. Coming into this year’s first leg, Victoria’s Maverick has had a steady start to 2019. He has been competing in the MSS without any wins in nine starts, however he has been either second or third eight out of those nine outings.

Victoria’s Maverick is trained by Valerie Grondin.

Levi (Pet Rock-Beam Of Joy) has raced in Ohio all year and competed in the Buckeye Stallions Series, winning at Scioto Downs in 1:53 1/5 and taking a second at Miami Valley Raceway in 1:52 3/5. He took a month off before starting at Plainridge on September 20, where he traversed Massachusetts dirt for the first time since he was second in the MASS final last year. He looks to compete fresh from that layoff.

Levi is trained by Scott Renz.

3-year-old pacing fillies

Karan’s Choice (Sportswriter-Denverlove) was the 2-year-old champion of this division in 2018 and has been racing 5-year-old and under non-winner classes at The Ridge all this year. With four wins in 13 starts, $22,924 earned and a mark of 1:54 2/5, Karan’s Choice has some work to do to match her $124,344 bankroll of last year. But coming into this stake will give her chance to do it.

Karan’s Choice who is trained by Jim Hardy.

Cominrightatyou (Western Maverick-Express Ball N) finished second in the MASS final last year and comes into this series having competed in the MSS circuit all summer. Currently second in points there on the strength of three wins and seven board placements out of eight starts, Cominrightatyou looks to challenge for the top spot in the final here.

Cominrightatyou is trained by Heidi Gibbs.

Secure The Border (Jereme’s Jet-Secure Hanover) was able to garner only minor spoils in the MASS as a 2-year-old but has upped her game this year. Scoring two wins and showing more speed as the year has progressed. After taking a mark of 1:57 at Plainridge last month she may be maturing at just the right time to take a bigger piece of the pie this year.

Secure The Border is trained by Ivan Davies.

3-year-old trotting colts

Simple Kaos (RC Royalty-Ksenia) was the 2-year-old champion but has yet to find the winner's circle this year. Although he has nine seconds and thirds, the illustrious “W” has evaded him so far in 2019. But that is more than likely a result of him racing aged trotters many times this summer where he finished a close second on multiple occasions timed in 1:55. His last two starts at Vernon Downs bode well for his first start in the series at Plainridge where he will once again compete among his peers.

Simple Kaos is trained by George Ducharme.

Jake G’s Champion (RC Royalty-Super Starlet) was eligible to the New York Sire Stakes (NYSS) but only had one start in the Excelsior A Series back in May. The rest of the year he has been racing juvenile non-winner events and has only missed one check in all of them. After taking a lifetime mark of 1:57 1/5 at Plainridge over the summer, it would appear he is ready to be more competitive in these finals than he was last year.

Jake G’s Champion is also trained by George Ducharme.

RFL’s Lord Command (Royalty For Life-Tetiana) did not have a successful 2-year-old stake season in Massachusetts but has come back to race strong as three. After taking a lifetime mark of 1:56 back in June and hitting the board seven out of 13 starts, RFL’s Lord Command has made big strides in his development. Sporadic breaks are the only thing that still hurt his game.

RFL’s Lord Command is trained by Jim Hardy.

3-year-old trotting fillies

Ev’s Girl (Crazed-Lindy’s Lullaby) has been racing very successfully on the NYSS circuit, finishing first in points in the Excelsior A division. With three wins during the year, earnings of $44,350 and a mark of 1:56 3/5 at Vernon Downs, Ev’s Girl finished third in the $55,000 final at Saratoga off a valiant effort from post eight. The first leg of the MASS will be her first start since that final and she will be ready to roll week-one.

Ev’s Girl is trained by owned by Julie Miller.

Crystalline (Chapter Seven-Royalty Free) has mirrored Ev’s Girl this year, also competing in the Excelsior A in New York. She won two legs, took a mark of 1:56 4/5 at Vernon and finished second in points going into the final where she finished fifth, beaten only 3-3/4 lengths. Crystalline will be a definite player in the MASS.

George Ducharme trains Crystalline.

Mother Teresa (Father Patrick-Highscore Kemp) is very lightly raced this year and has put forth hit and miss efforts when she did. However she also showed some good speed in the $50,000 Kentucky Sire Stake consolation when she finished second, timed in 1:55 2/5. That clocking matched her lifetime best taken last year at the Red Mile. She looks to continue her forward momentum but will be a wild card coming into these first legs of the MASS.

Mother Teresa is trained by Domenico Cecere.

Just Dreamin (RC Royalty-Winbak Dream) had a couple starts in the NYSS Excelsior A finishing third in both and she seems to have matured off that experience. She has been racing in juvenile overnights at Plainridge where she just took a lifetime mark of 1:56 two starts ago. She is very familiar with that surface and that will be a big advantage for her.

Joe Flynn trains Just Dreamin.

Here is the complete 2019 Massachusetts Sire Stake Schedule:

Sunday (Sept. 29) 3-year-old First Leg $35,000 added

Monday (Sept. 30) 2-year-old First Leg $35,000 added

Sunday (Oct. 6) 3-year-old Second Leg $35,000 added

Monday (Oct. 7) 2-year-old Second Leg $35,000 added

Sunday (Oct. 20) 2-year-old Third Leg $35,000 added

Monday (Oct. 21) 3-year-old Third Leg $35,000 added

Monday (Oct. 28) 2- and 3-year-old Finals $100,000 (est.)

-edited release (Tim Bojarski for Standardbred Owners of Massachusetts)