Plainridge: Sophomores meet up in Massachusetts Breeders Stakes

The $3.2 million (est.) Massachusetts Breeder Stakes reconvened at Plainridge Park on Tuesday (Sept. 29) with the first leg of competition for 3-year-old state-breds of both gaits and sexes. Competing for a total of $331,750 in purses, the trotters competed in single divisions by gender, while the pacers went in splits for both sexes.

Highlights from the card included Yannick Gingras winning four more stakes races, four more stakes horses taking lifetime marks and three of last year's four 2-year-old champions winning their first leg of the 3-year-old series.

But the big news came when the colt and gelding trotters lined up for $79,500 where Geologic (Chapter Seven-Crystalline) was nothing less than unbeatable in his bid for a second straight championship and set a stakes record for a 3-year-old male trotter.

Geologic (Yannick Gingras) took a commanding lead as he refused to let Mother's Moni (Dexter Dunn) go by and forced him into the pocket at the quarter in 27 3/5. Once fully in control, Geologic led Mother's Moni to the half in 56 4/5 and three-quarters in 1:25 1/5, where the top two horses separated and turned it into a match race. As they rounded the last turn, Mother's Moni pulled and took direct aim at Geologic, who was still in control. When they entered the lane, Mother's Moni trotted closer to Geologic with every stride, but Geologic would not be denied and won by three-quarters of a length in 1:52 2/5, home in 27 1/5.

Geologic ($3.40) is owned by his trainer, Paul Kelley, in partnership with Go For Glory Stable, Matthew Lamont and VIP Internet Stable. Ray Campbell Jr. bred Geologic.

Then the fillies lined up for $80,250, and Cash Out Express (International Moni-Maliziosa Lindy) put forth a career effort in victory.

Adios My Lindy (Brett Beckwith) left fast for the lead with Lindy In My Dreams (Dexter Dunn) and Cash Out Express (Yannick Gingras) following behind. After passing the quarter, Cash Out Express made a quick charge for the lead and got there in front of the stands. Positions remained unchanged to three-quarters, but in the last turn, Adios My Lindy pulled for the attack and Lindy In My Dreams tipped three-deep around her. As they approached the lane, Adios My Lindy made a break, leaving Lindy In My Dreams and Cash Out Express to battle it out. The two trotters matched strides all the way to the wire where Cash Out Express hung on by a head to win in 1:54.

Cash Out Express ($3.80) is owned by her trainer, George Ducharme, in partnership with James De Armond, Jim Winske and Sal Vullo. Lindy Farms of Connecticut bred the winner.

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In the first $42,800 division for pacing fillies, Sweet Cindy Lou (Sweet Lou-Firefly) was much the best in a solid win.

Bettor's Gold (Nick Graffam) grabbed the lead after two early changes and passed the quarter in 27 3/5, but the heavily-favored Sweet Cindy Lou (Corey Callahan) burst out from mid-pack and flew to the front going by the stands. Sweet Cindy Lou then set the pace to three-quarters in 1:24 3/5 as Perfect Lynn (Yannick Gingras) tipped from third and was moving quickly outside. At the top of the stretch, Perfect Lynn drew close to the leader, but Sweet Cindy Lou was let out a notch and opened up 2 1/4 lengths to win in 1:53 1/5.

Sweet Cindy Lou ($2.10) is owned by Michael and Sara Kimelman and trained by Michael Kimelman. Ross Bonafield bred the winner.

Then, in the second $42,800 split, the 2025 2-year-old MASS pacing filly champion, Two Twenty Swift (Huntsville-Jag Out), put on a dominant performance as she ran away with a new lifetime mark.

Just Delightful (Ron Cushing) took the early lead and reached the quarter in 27 4/5, but Two Twenty Swift (Yannick Gingras) was out and rolling immediately at that station and took control of the race in front of the stands. Two Twenty Swift was on cruise as she passed the half in 56 4/5 and three-quarters in 1:24 and opened up a four length lead. At the top of the stretch, Two Twenty Swift extended that to a five length bulge and held it to the line where she won in 1:51 3/5, which was a new lifetime mark.

Two Twenty Swift ($2.60) is owned by Donald MacRae and Beasty and trained by Deborah Daguet. Ross Bonafield bred Two Twenty Swift.

The first group of male pacers went for $43,200 and defending 2-year-old MASS champion Beantown Dragon (Fear The Dragon-Ace Of Pace) started his bid to repeat with a new lifetime mark from dominant effort.

Beantown Dragon (Brett Beckwith) was sent right to the front and marched sharply to the half in 56 2/5 with Alcatraz Blue Chip (Matty Athearn) following intently on the pocket. As the race proceeded to three-quarters, the top two horses started to separate from the field and reached three-quarters in 1:24 2/5. When Beantown Dragon entered the turn, he then separated from Alcatraz Blue Chip and led by three lengths at the top of the stretch. And from there, Beantown Dragon cruised home while wrapped-up, and won by three lengths in a career- best 1:52 3/5.

Beantown Dragon ($2.60) is owned and was bred by Michael Goldberg and is trained by Chuck Connor Jr.

The next group of colt and gelding side-wheelers vied for $43,200 and saw Hard To Forget (American Ideal-Nota Fool Bluechip) pace away with an impressive win.

Hard To Forget (Yannick Gingras) took the early lead and was at the quarter in 27 3/5, but he was soon challenged by Daytoremember (Heath Campbell), who stormed the leader passing three-eighths. However, as soon as Daytoremember grabbed the front, Hard To Forget came right back for the top and stayed there until the end. Hard To Forget reached three-quarters in 1:23 and opened up a four length lead. He then rounded the turn, pulled away by more and finished the mile on top by five in 1:51 3/5, setting a new lifetime mark.

Hard To Forget ($2.40) 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. 1) at 2 p.m.

Please note that starting this week, Plainridge Park will be racing on Fridays for the next five weeks, through the end of October. Post time will also be 2 p.m. (EDT) for all Friday cards.

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