Plainville, MA — The first leg of the Massachusetts Breeders Stake at Plainridge Park saw state-bred 2-year-old trotters and pacers competing for a total of $315,000 in purses on Tuesday (Sept. 24). The event featured multiple divisions, with three categories divided into two $40,000 heats and trotting colts and geldings racing for a single $75,000 prize.
The pacing colts and geldings stole the spotlight, led by Jon I Love Dat (Downbytheseaside-Franney Love Dat), who broke the Massachusetts Breeders Stake record. Driven by Mitchell Cushing, Jon I Love Dat set the pace with quarter times of :27.1, :56.4, and 1:24.3. He continued to dominate through the stretch, winning by two lengths in a time of 1:52.4, establishing a new record.
Bred by owner Robert Lovett and trained by Chuck Connor Jr., Jon I Love Dat returned $6.20 to his backers.
In the other division of pacing males, Digging For Gold (Huntsville-Gold Orchid N) captured his first Massachusetts stake win. After early leader Silent Weapon set the pace, Scott Zeron guided Digging For Gold to the lead, holding off a late challenge from Seafood Star to win by 1-3/4 lengths in 1:53.4.
Digging For Gold, bred by Bamq and trained by George Ducharme, is owned in partnership by Ducharme, Jim Winske, and Dr. Megan Moschgat.
In the trotting fillies division, Corner Store (Six Pack-Seven Eleven) easily took her non-betting event, with Yannick Gingras driving her to a 3-1/4 length victory in 1:59.4. Owned and trained by Paul Kelley, alongside partners Matthew Lamont, Ellen Palillo, and Leo Bauer, Corner Store was bred by William Johnson.
The second group of trotting fillies saw Bridgeoverbroadway (Six Pack-Black Broadway) set a blistering early pace, leading by as much as eight lengths. Though Riviera Princess mounted a strong late charge, Bridgeoverbroadway held on for a half-length victory in 1:56.2, setting a new lifetime mark.
Owned, trained, and bred by Mike Eaton in partnership with Bob McHugh, Bridgeoverbroadway paid $5.60.
In pacing fillies, Beantown Deuce (Huntsville-Don’t Think Twice) scored a one-length victory after overtaking early leader American Lilly. Driven by Brett Beckwith, Beantown Deuce finished in 1:56.4, a new lifetime mark. She is owned by Michael Goldberg Racing, trained by George Ducharme, and bred by Michael Goldberg and Andrew Harris.
It’s Crunch Time (Captain Crunch-Meghan Lynn) dominated her pacing fillies race, winning by an astounding 16 lengths in 1:54, also a lifetime best. Driven by Yannick Gingras, she is owned by Thomas and Scott Dillon, trained by Ron Burke, and bred by Crawford Farms.
In the trotting colts and geldings race, Castel Lindy (Walner-Love N Lindy) went gate to wire to tie the stake record in 1:55.4. Despite a strong challenge from Belmondo, Castel Lindy held on for a neck victory. He was driven by Yannick Gingras, trained by Domenico Cecere, and bred by K. R. Breeding.
Racing at Plainridge Park resumes Thursday (Sept. 26), with the Massachusetts Breeders Stake continuing Monday (Sept. 30).