Plainridge: Records abound in Massachusetts Sire Stakes

The records continued to fall at Plainridge Park after five divisions of 2-year-olds competed in the $1.8 million Massachusetts Sire Stakes (MASS) on Monday afternoon (Oct. 7). Five more track and/or stake standards were either matched or reset when the action concluded in the second leg of the series.

In the first $22,450 division for pacing colts and geldings, R Maddy Blue Chip (Drew Monti) left from post four and dictated the race. After splits of 27 3/5, 57, and 1:25 1/5, he was firmly in control of the race with Mcbeantown (Mitchell Cushing) being the only horse with a legitimate shot after drafting second the whole way. At the top of the stretch Mcbeantown took his best shot, but it wasn’t enough as Monti high-lined R Maddy Blue Chip down the lane to a 1 1/4 length victory in 1:54 2/5.

The time was a new lifetime mark for R Maddy Blue Chip (American Ideal-Frontierpan), a new stake record, and a new track record for 2-year-old pacing geldings. It was the first MASS win for R Maddy Blue Chip ($4.20), who is owned by Thomas and Scott Dillon and trained by Joe Nelson. Blue Chip Bloodstock bred R Maddy Blue Chip.

The $39,200 division for trotting fillies saw the heavy 1-9 favorite Without A Warning (Shawn Gray) out-tussle Pembroke Whisper (Heath Campbell) past the quarter where she cleared and never looked back. She continued on at her own pace, tripping the next two timers in 58 and 1:27 3/5 without any pursuit to deal with. At the top of the stretch Gray sat chilly as Without A Warning knew what to do and pulled away to a handy 4 1/4 length win in 1:57 3/5.

The time was a new lifetime mark for Without A Warning (RC Royalty-Concentration), and it tied the stake and track record for 2-year-old trotting fillies. Without A Warning ($2.10) is now two-for-two in MASS action this year, and those wins inflated her bankroll to $117,260 in 2019 for breeder/owner Ray Campbell Jr. George Ducharme trains the winner.

The lone non-betting event was the $38,500 trot for colts and geldings, and Crazy For Luca (Jimmy Whittemore) earned a hard-fought victory over Life Is A Feast, who was coming in on a three-race winning streak.

Double Dealing (Shawn Gray) cut the quarter in 27 4/5 before Life Is A Feast (Howard Parker) pulled first-over from fourth with Crazy For Luca on his back. Life Is A Feast eventually cleared but still had Crazy For Luca to his outside and pushing hard to the three-quarters. Still 1 1/2 lengths off, Crazy For Luca continued to dig and cut the lead to a quarter of a length at the top of the stretch and from there, never gave up down to the wire, where he gained a nose advantage and won in 1:57 3/5.

It was the first lifetime win for Crazy For Luca (Crazed-Teachmehowto Lindy), and the time set a new track record for 2-year-old trotting colts. Crazy For Luca is owned by Dale Hein, Tessa Roland, and Royal Roland and is trained by Marissa Chadbourne. K R Breeding bred Crazy For Luca.

In the $41,300 pace for fillies, Odds On Orlando (Drew Monti) stayed perfect in Massachusetts since shipping in from Lexington.

After pulling from second at the quarter to take the lead from Rojas Blue Chip (Kevin Switzer Jr.), Odds On Orlando took control the race and from there, put on quite a show. After getting to the three-quarters only half a length in front of Bold N Sporty (Mitchell Cushing) and Rojas Blue Chip, Odds On Orlando swelled up at the head of the lane and paced away in a 28 2/5 final panel to a wrapped-up five length win in 1:56, which was a new lifetime mark.

Odds On Orlando ($3.60) is owned by Odds On Racing and is trained by Tony Alagna. Lindy Farms of Connecticut bred Odds On Orlando (Captaintreacherous-Lindys Old Lady).

The second $22,450 division of the pacing colts and geldings returned the biggest surprise of the day after the 45-1 Kevmarvalous (Mitchell Cushing) upset the current track record holder Han Solo, who came into the day with a four-race winning streak.

Han Solo (Kevin Switzer Jr.) got away fourth but pulled at the quarter and took the lead from Mister Puzzles (John Nason) before the half in 56 2/5. At this point Kevmarvalous was last by 7 1/2 lengths. Han Solo then took the race to the three-quarters while Kevmarvalous was pacing third-over in the breeze before pulling three-deep into the final turn. Han Solo took a three length lead into the stretch, but Cushing was methodically urging Kevmarvalous all the way to the wire and got there first by a nose in 1:56 4/5.

It was the first lifetime win for Kevmarvalous ($92.80), who owned by KDK Standardbreds and is trained by Kevin Switzer. KDK Standardbreds also bred Kevmarvalous (Delmarvalous-Shady Sabrina).

--press release (Plainridge)--