Plainridge: Records registered in abundance in Massachusetts Breeders Stakes

The third round of Massachusetts Breeder Stakes for 2-year-old participants of both gaits and genders was held at Plainridge Park on Monday (Oct. 19), and multiple pages of several record books were re-written when the dust had settled for the afternoon.

There were seven stake races - split divisions for all but the male trotters - that went for a combined $335,000 in purses. Seven new lifetime marks were set, along with three track records, three stake records and three horses established as being the fastest-ever bred in the state of Massachusetts.

The fastest group of the day was the second group of male pacers, who hit the track for $42,400, and Bacchus Blue Chip (American Ideal-Sunnynseventyfive) entered the record books on the strength of his career-best outing.

Takes Courage (Matt Kakaley), Atreidis (Cory Stratton) and Bacchus Blue Chip (Yannick Gingras) all battled for the front through the 27 1/5 first quarter before Bacchus Blue Chip finally took the lead and dominated from there. Bacchus Blue Chip reached the half in 55 3/5 and three-quarters in 1:23 1/5 while inching away from the competition around the turn. When Bacchus Blue entered the stretch, he was in full flight and pulled away to a 4 1/2 length lead at the line where he won in 1:50 3/5.

The time also set a new track record for a 2-year-old pacing colt, a new stake record for a 2-year-old male pacer and made Bacchus Blue Chip the fastest 2-year-old pacing colt ever bred in Massachusetts.

Bacchus Blue Chip ($2.20) is owned by Burke Racing, Larry Karr, Libby and Purnel and Frank Baldachino and trained by Ron Burke.

► Sign up for our FREE DRF Harness Digest Newsletter

The first group pacing males, who went for $42,400, were also record-setting as Sting Me (Perfect Sting-Gallie Onthebeach) broke all three records he set himself in week two of MASS stake action.

Sting Me (Mitchell Cushing) got away third as Top Notch Treasure (Yannick Gingras) and Bastonata Bluechip (Matt Kakaley) traded leads to the quarter in 27 seconds flat. Bastonata Bluechip then reached the half in 56 1/5 before Sting Me pulled first-over and took the lead before passing three-quarters in 1:24 1/5. From there, Sting Me swelled up when he entered the stretch on top by four lengths and paced away by 5 1/2 lengths at the line in 1:52 1/5, setting a new lifetime mark.

The time also broke the track record for 2-year-old pacing geldings, the stake record for 2-year-old male pacers (that was broken again by Bacchus Blue Chip) and lowered Sting Me's own time as the fastest 2-year-old pacing gelding ever bred in Massachusetts.

Sting Me ($3.00) is owned by Nancy Longobardi and Domenic Longobardi and trained by George Ducharme. Blue Chip Bloodstock bred Sting Me.

The third record-breaking performance came in the first $42,800 division of pacing fillies where Lindy Believer (Captaintreacherous-Believe It's Lindy) put in the performance of her life.

The Woman With You (Jimmy Whittemore) took the first lead and reached the quarter in 27 2/5, but Lindy Believer (Yannick Gingras) pulled immediately and gained control in front of the grandstand and never looked back from there. Lindy Believer passed the half in 56 seconds and three-quarters in 1:24 before rounding the last turn. Lindy Believer entered the stretch on top by four lengths and after she straightened for home, cruised to the line in 1:52, which was a new lifetime mark.

The time also broke the track and stake record for a 2-year-old pacing filly and also made Lindy Believer the fastest 2-year-old pacing filly ever bred in Massachusetts.

Lindy Believer is owned by Engblom Farm, R A W Equine, Evans Nation and Hickory Hollow Stable and trained by Petter Engblom. Lindy Farms of Connecticut bred Lindy Believer. This was a non-betting event.

The second group of filly pacers vied for $42,800 and was won by Stayoutofmylane (Stay Hungry-Gold Orchid N), who notched her second MASS stake win.

Always B Winning (Mitchell Cushing) led to the quarter in 28 1/5 before Stayoutofmylane (Brett Beckwith) bolted to the front passing the stands and settled in at the half in 56 3/5. Stayoutofmylane continued to lead up the backstretch where Chase News Network (Nick Graffam) and Tall Dark Lindy (Michael Oosting) made outside bids before entering the last turn. When the girls straightened for home, the field was bunching, but Stayoutofmylane was best of all and won by a length in 1:53 4/5, which was a new lifetime mark.

Stayoutofmylane ($7.00) is owned and was bred by George Ducharme Stable, Jim Winske and Dr. Megan Moschgat and is trained by George Ducharme.

There were also two divisions of filly trotters, the first going for $41,600 that was won by Luxe Lindy (Walner-Decadence), who scored her second straight MASS victory with a late rush.

Nanny's Ce Ce (Jeff Gregory) out-left Ma's Always Right (Yannick Gingras) and Luxe Lindy (Tyler Miller), who pocketed-up behind the leader before reaching the quarter in 29 1/5. With no movement from behind, Nanny's Ce Ce led comfortably to the half in 58 1/5 and three-quarters in 1:27 1/5 before entering the far turn. As the race came off the far bend, Luxe Lindy tipped off the cones and bore down on Nanny's Ce Ce, eventually trotting by her en route to the three-quarters of a length to win in 1:55 3/5, which was a new lifetime mark.

Luxe Lindy is owned by Andy Miller Stable, Jean Goehlen, Little E LLC. and Coyote Wynd Farms and trained by Julie Miller. Luxe Lindy was bred by K R Breeding. This was a non-betting event.

The second split of trotting fillies went for $42,000 and was won by Beyond The Rules (Back Of The Neck-Crystalline), who registered her first career victory.

Beyond The Rules (Michael Oosting) took the lead from Halo Lindy (Tyler Miller) after passing the quarter in 29 1/5. Once in front, Beyond The Rules led the single-file field through even fractions of 59 seconds and 1:28 without any challenges from behind. When she turned for home she was up by three lengths, but Beyond The Rules then blew away the field by 8 1/4 lengths in 1:56 4/5, taking a lifetime mark.

Beyond The Rules ($4.80) is owned by Paul Kelley Racing Stable, Ray Campbell Jr., Go For Glory Stable and Matthew Lamont and trained by Paul Kelley. Ray Campbell Jr. bred the winner.

Finally, there was one division of trotting colts and geldings who raced for $81,000 and saw Once Upon Lindy (International Moni-Origin Story) win his third straight MASS leg.

Once Upon Lindy (Yannick Gingras) rolled to the lead on the outside passing the quarter in 29 seconds flat. Once clear on the pegs, Once Upon Lindy marched smartly through quarters of 57 4/5 and 1:26 4/5 while his stablemate Two Fifty (Brett Beckwith) followed closely. At the top of the stretch, Two Fifty tipped and tried to advance, but Once Upon Lindy was too good and won by 1 1/2 lengths in a career-best 1:55 2/5.

Once Upon Lindy ($2.60) is owned and was bred by K R Breeding and is trained by Domenico Cecere.

Driver Yannick Gingras scored a stake hat trick while trainer George Ducharme had two wins and was the top conditioner in the seven events.

Racing will resume at Plainridge Park on Tuesday (Oct. 20) at 2 p.m. with the third leg of the $3.2 million (est.) Massachusetts Breeders Stakes for 3-year-olds being featured.

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