Plainville, MA – Plainridge Park hosted the third running event of 3-year-olds competing in the $3.2 million Massachusetts Breeders Stakes on Tuesday (Oct. 21) and pacer Courageous Warrior put on quite a show after scoring an upset victory and setting several records as a result.
It was the second $45,000 division of pacing colts and geldings won by Courageous Warrior (Hunstville-Chief Karen), who went from gate to wire at 24-1.
Courageous Warrior (Matty Athearn) took an early lead and was then chased through a vicious :26 quarter by Seafood Neighneigh (Bruce Ranger) before Seafood Neighneigh would go into second just before half time. Courageous Warrior then opened a five-length lead down the backstretch, before Jon I Love Dat (Yannick Gingras) rode from third and eventually caught up to run a close second at three-quarters in 1:21.3.
Heading into the final corner, Jon I Love Dat continued to ride behind Courageous Warrior before overtaking the stretch, but was unable to overtake Courageous Warrior, who ran clear at the top by 2.5 lengths in 1:50.2.
COURAGEOUS WARRIOR REPEAT
Time was a new lifeline for Courageous Warrior, setting a new Massachusetts Breeders Stake record for a 3-year-old male pacer and making him the fastest 3-year-old pacer ever bred in Massachusetts.
Courageous Warrior ($50.80) is owned by Curran Racing and Nickerson Racing, who also bred the winner in partnership with Adam Michael. Jimmy Nickerson trains the winner.
Returning to the top of the rankings, the first race of the day was the first $45,000 division of trotting fillies and Tactical Moni (Tactical landing-All Our Moni) took her winning streak to five in a row after an easy victory.
Tactical Moni (Yannick Gingras) came away second behind Peach Cocktail (Matty Athearn), but withdrew just before the quarter to take command for good. After trotting to half in :56.1 and three-quarters in 1:24.3, Tactical Moni darted around the far bend and powered away to an easy 4½ length victory in 1:53.1.
TACTICAL MONI REPEAT
It was the third straight Mass stakes win for Tactical Moni ($2.20), who is owned and bred by Moni Maker Stable.
The next event was the first $45,000 division of pacing fillies, with Beantown Deuce (Huntsville-Don’t Think Twice) going gate to wire in a career-best clocking.
Beantown Deuce (Matt Kakaley) took no prisoners from the gate, going straight to the front and clicking off quarters of :27.3, :56.2 and 1:24.3, while Wassail Blue Chip (Yannick Gingras) followed closely in the pocket. Halfway through the final turn, Wassail Blue Chip moved to advance and attacked Beantown Deuce at the top of the stretch. But Beantown Deuce rebuffed that challenge, winning by 1-¼ lengths in his best time, 1:52.4.
BEANTOWN JUICE REPEAT
Beantown Deuce ($3.00) is owned by Michael Goldberg Racing, who also bred the filly in partnership with Andrew Harris Racing.
The second $45,000 split for trotting fillies was next and produced another tour winner in Corner Store (Six pack-Seven Eleven).
Global Heritage (Yannick Gingras) battled with Corner Store (Brett Beckwith) until the quarter before Corner Store took the lead in the quarter: 27.3. The top positions then remained the same after the half, at the back and around the far bend before Global Heritage left the pocket and attempted to chase down Corner Store. The pair drew level in the deep stretch, but Corner Store never gave in and won by a neck in 1:53.2.
CORNER STORE REPEAT
Corner Store ($4.20) is owned by her trainer, Paul Kelley, in partnership with Matthew Lamont, Ellen Palillo and Leo Bauer.
William Johnson bred Corner Store.
Then the second $45,000 division of pacing fillies came onto the track with Beantown Roberta (Dad Rob Hanover-Ace Of Pace) inflicted a 17-1 defeat in her first win of the year.
Beantown Roberta (Matty Athearn) finished third as Seafood CC (Yannick Gingras) led through quarters of :28 and :57.1. As the race approached three-quarters, Moneymakesherhappy (Brett Beckwith) moved into the lead, but then Treacherous Idol (Nick Graffam) came alongside around the final corner and pulled ahead at the top of the stretch. But it was Beantown Roberta who broke away halfway through the stretch and ran home best by half a length in 1:56.2.
BEANTOWN ROBERTA REPEAT
Beantown Roberta ($37.20) is owned and trained by Wil Dubois.
Beantown Roberta was bred by Michael Goldberg Racing.
Then the $45,000 second leg of pacing stallions and geldings went to the post at Southpaw (American Ideal-Love You Bye) scored a dominant victory.
Southpaw (Jimmy Whittemore) was an undisputed leader, cutting fractions of :28.2, :57.2 and 1:24.4 before an eventual challenge came from Digging For Gold (Nick Graffam), who dropped from third to attempt a challenge. Digging For Gold came within a length and a half of the leader at the top of the stretch, but that was as close as he could get as Southpaw sealed the deal in 1:52.4.
SOUTH PAW REPEAT
Southpaw ($4.80) is owned, trained and bred by his driver, Jimmy Whittemore.
The final race of the day was a $75,000 single division of trotting colts and geldings, with Te Quiero Lindy (Walter-Adios Lindy) converted an early move into his second stakes win.
Te Quiero Lindy (Tyler Miller) came away third before taking the lead from Castle Lindy (Yannick Gingras) just before the quarter. With Moni Man (Brett Beckwith) in third place, Te Quiero Lindy led the pack to halftime in 56.4, three quarters in 1:24.3 and then around the far bend for the second time. At the top of the stretch Castle Lindy pulled and Moni Man tapped three deep, both in pursuit of the leader. However, the leader did not give in and held them both off to win by half a length in 1:55.
I love you, LINDY REPLAY
Te Quiero Lindy ($7.40) is owned by Andy Miller Stable, Patrick Hoopes and Lindy Farms of Connecticut, who also bred the winner.
The final of the $1.2 million Massachusetts Breeders Stakes will be held Thursday (October 30) at Plainridge Park.
Live racing resumes at Plainridge Park on Thursday (October 23) at 2pm and there will be a carryover of $1,308 in the Wicked Hi-5 pentafecta in the sixth race.
Free full past performance programs and race replays for all live racing days at Plainridge Park can be found at plainridgeparkcasino.com.
For full race results, click here: American trotting results.
Through Tim Boyarskifor Plainridge Park
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