Plainridge: Up Your Deo rallies to Spirit Of Massachusetts title

Up Your Deo, driven by trainer Ake Svanstedt and sent off at 15-1, broke through for his first major victory an an older horse in Sunday afternoon's Grade 2 $250,000 Spirit Of Massachusetts for trotters at Plainridge Park.

Starting from post one, Up Your Deo settled in the third position and watched as Lexus Kody (Yannick Gingras) and Logan Park (Doug McNair) tussled for the top spot in a 26 4/5 quarter. Logan Park re-moved to the top around Lexus Kody past that marker and went on to the half in 54 4/5 as Chapercraz (Nicholas Graffam), Get A Wish (Tim Tetrick) and 3-5 favorite Periculum (Scott Zeron) set up an outer flow.

Logan Park rebuffed Chapercraz's attack to three-quarters in 1:22 3/5, and after Get A Wish made a break on the far turn, Periculum had to go three-wide. Periculum advanced after tipping out, but Lexus Kody had room to come off the pylons before the top of the stretch, and Up Your Deo followed Lexus Kody's bid.

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Lexus Kody lost his chance to contend when he made a break late on the last turn, though, and that handed command to Periculum on the far outside. However, Up Your Deo and Svanstedt managed to navigate around the breaking Lexus Kody and then put in a spirited bid to the wire that carried him around Periculum to get the victory by a quarter of a length in 1:51. Lexus Kody crossed the wire off-stride in third and was placed last, elevating Ari Ferrari J (Brett Beckwith), Logan Park (Doug McNair) and Aetos Kronos S (Dexter Dunn).

"I was lucky to get racing room. I was locked in, but he was really good today and came home fast," Svanstedt remarked. "He can compete against the good horses. Last year he wasn't so good, but he's much better this year."

A 5-year-old Walner stallion, Up Your Deo is co-owned by Svanstedt in partnership with breeder Deo Volente Farms LLC. along with Suleyman Yuksel Stables Inc. and Van Camp Trotting Corp. Up Your Deo is now an eight-time winner in his life, has pocketed $999,192 and paid $35.20 to win.