Plainridge: Sophomores complete their Massachusetts Breeders Stakes prelims

The Massachusetts Breeders Stakes 3-year-old eligibles faced off for $324,000 in purses at Plainridge Park on Tuesday (Oct. 20) in single divisions, except for the pacing fillies. The day was highlighted by four horses sweeping their divisions and three career-best efforts. However, the trotting gelding Geologic and his driver, Yannick Gingras, made the biggest news of all. Gingras won a total of four stakes during the afternoon for the second time this year, including teaming Geologic to a record-breaking performance in his third straight stake victory.

The trotting colts and geldings started for $78,750 with Mother's Moni (Bruce Ranger) cutting the mile while Geologic (Yannick Gingras) sat second, and the rest of the field was well off-the-pace as they trotted through speedy splits of 26 3/5, 55 1/5 and 1:23. Mother's Moni and Geologic were 11 1/2 lengths ahead of the field when they entered the far turn, and when they straightened for the wire, Geologic tipped off his cover and bolted past Mother's Moni to the line, winning by six lengths in 1:51 3/5, taking a new lifetime mark.

The time was also a new track record for 3-year-old trotting geldings and a new stake record for a sophomore trotting male.

It was the fourth win in-a-row and seventh in the last nine starts for Geologic, who is owned by Paul Kelley Racing, Go For Glory Stable, Matthew Lamont and VIP Internet Stable. Ray Campbell Jr. bred Geologic. This was also a non-betting event.

► Sign up for our FREE DRF Harness Digest Newsletter

The first division of filly pacers competed for $42,000 in purse, and Vainglorious (Bettor's Delight-Bronskimackenzie A) went coast-to-coast to score her second stakes victory.

Vainglorious (Brett Beckwith) left from post three, and with Seafood Treasure (Bruce Ranger) following closely, cut quarters of 27 3/5, 56 2/5 and 1:24 3/5. After the group paced out of the far turn, Seafood Treasure and Sunshine Ideal (Yannick Gingras) were closing in on Vainglorious, who had a two length lead at the top of the stretch. That margin was pared down to three-quarters of a length at the wire, where Vainglorious held off the fast-closing Seafood Treasure to win in 1:53.

Vainglorious is trained and was bred by Tahnee Camilleri and is co-owned by her with David Kryway. This was also a non-betting event.

The second group of girls also went for $42,000, and Two Twenty Swift (Huntsville-Jag Out) is now a perfect three-for-three in Mass stake action this year.

Two Twenty Swift (Yannick Gingras) settled in third off the gate as Perfect Lynn (Brett Beckwith) and Sweet Cindy Lou (Corey Callahan) traded leads to the quarter in 26 4/5 before Sweet Cindy Lou took control in front of the stands. The top three stayed in order to the half in 55 3/5 and three-quarters in 1:23 4/5, where Two Twenty Swift tipped going into the last turn. Two Twenty Swift moved quickly to the front, made the lead as they entered the stretch and pulled away by 2 1/2 lengths in a lifetime-best clocking of 1:51 2/5.

Two Twenty Swift ($2.10) is owned by Donald MacRae and Beasty and trained by Deborah Daguet.

The trotting fillies were up next competing for $80,250, and Cash Out Express (International Moni-Maliziosa Lindy) will head into the finals a perfect three-for-three in Mass stake action.

Cash Out Express (Yannick Gingras) took the better part of the 28 second first quarter to get to the front, but when she did, she closed the deal. With Adios My Lindy (Brett Beckwith) following close in second, Cash Out Express reached the half in 56 2/5 and three-quarters in 1:24 3/5 before heading around the turn for the payoff. When the race entered the stretch, Adios My Lindy found room at the pegs and made a bold bid heading for the wire, but Cash Out Express stayed on task and hung on by one-half length to win in a career-best-tying 1:53 2/5.

Cash Out Express ($3.00) is owned by George Ducharme Stable, James DeArmond, Jim Winske and Sal Vullo and trained by George Ducharme.

Finally the male pacers competed for $81,000 where Hard To Forget (American Ideal-Nota Fool Bluechip) swept all three legs of the glamour division this year.

Altair Blue Chip (Jimmy Whittemore) reached the quarter first in 26 2/5, but Hard To Forget (Yannick Gingras) was flying on the outside and grabbed the front passing the stands. Hard To Forget then sped to the half in 54 3/5 and started to pull away heading to three-quarters. Hard To Forget was up by five lengths around the far turn, and when he reached the stretch, he was wrapped-up and won by 4 1/2 lengths in 1:52.

Hard To Forget ($2.10) is owned and was bred by Fiddler's Creek Stable and is trained by Travis Alexander.

Racing will resume at Plainridge Park on Thursday (Oct. 22) at 2 p.m. (EDT).

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