Suffolk Downs: Simply Mas gets more ground in Norman Hall Stakes

EAST BOSTON, Mass. – Simply Mas may prove to be simply the best of 10 Massachusetts-bred juveniles when the son of Lightnin N Thunder starts in Saturday’s six-furlong, $30,000 Norman Hall Stakes at Suffolk Downs.

Bred by Robert Simonick and owned by Old First Ward Stable, Simply Mas comes into Suffolk’s sole stakes event for 2-year-olds off a solid effort in his first start Oct. 16, when he rallied for third and was beaten a length in a maiden special weight test.

“That race was at five furlongs and had it been at six, he would have won,” said trainer Matthew Clarke, who gives jockey Pierre Tomas the return call. “He was bumped early on and still gave it his best. This colt was born in my arms, and he hasn’t done one thing wrong since. He does everything right, and he’s trained beautifully up to this race.”

Pete, who also encountered trouble in that Oct. 16 race but finished second by a neck, figures to get solid support in the wagering. Also sired by Lightnin N Thunder, the Kenneth Posco homebred’s two starts under Jackie Davis make him the most experienced runner in the field, and he showed marked improvement from his first outing Oct. 2.

Pete will have Davis back in the irons and is one of two entrants for trainer Wayne Marcoux, who will run Goodbyeguinnessbok for owner Shade Tree Farm.

Sweet C Rockett, Joanie’s Gem, Malibu Ice, Socianosvalentine, Restless Rebel, Royal Silk, and Spirit of Fortysix round out the field. Joanie’s Gem, Malibu Ice, and Socianosvalentine are all trained by George Brown, president of the Massachusetts Thoroughbred Breeders Association, for different owners.

The Norman Hall concludes the schedule of eight stakes races, all for Massachusetts-breds, at Suffolk Downs, which wraps up its 2013 live racing season on Breeders’ Cup Saturday, Nov. 2.