Gingras wins five $165,000 Massachusetts Breeder Stake finals

Plainville, MA — The $1.32 million finals of the Massachusetts Breeder Stakes were held at Plainridge Park on Thursday (Oct. 29) with eight harness racing divisions going postward for $165,000 each and Yannick Gingras stole the show by winning five of the eight finals.

Included in those five Gingras wins was the most impressive performance of the day from the 3-year-old trotting gelding, Geologic (Captain Corey-Crystalline), who after winning his three preliminary stake legs – two in record times – put himself in the record books once again, as a two-time Massachusetts champion.

Mother’s Moni (Dexter Dunn) shot right to the lead while Geologic drafted in second for the mile. After getting to the half in :55.2, Mother’s Moni and Geologic separated from the field by many lengths and after passing three-quarters in 1:22.3, it became a match race. Mother’s Moni held the lead to seven-eighths, but that’s also where Geologic came on the attack. Geologic was trotting up a storm at the top of the stretch and moved clear in mid-stretch and from there, Geologic won handily by 3-½ lengths in 1:51.3.

GEOLOGIC REPLAY

The time was a new lifetime mark for the winner and also broke the track and stake records for a sophomore trotting gelding.

Geologic ($2.40) is owned by Paul Kelley Racing, Go For Glory Stable, Matthew Lamont and VIP Internet Stable and trained by Paul Kelley. Ray Campbell Jr. bred Geologic.

The 2-year-old male trotter division was won by Once Upon Lindy (International Moni-Origin Story), who made it four straight wins in the stakes.

Two Fifty (Dexter Dunn) took the early lead as Once Upon Lindy (Yannick Gingras) was moving up on the outside. Then just before the quarter, Two Fifty made a break and Once Upon Lindy took the lead for good. With Sparkling Lindy (Matt Kakaley) following second, Once Upon Lindy reached the half in :57.4 and three-quarters in 1:26.4. Once Upon Lindy maintained a gapped advantage around the last turn and trotted home easily by two lengths in a lifetime best, 1:55.1.

ONCE UPON A LINDY REPLAY

Once Upon Lindy ($2.60) is owned and bred by K R Breeding and trained by Domenico Cecere.

Next up were the 3-year-old trotting fillies where last year’s 2-year-old champion, Lindy In My Dreams (Ready For Moni-Lindy Of My Dreams), claimed the crown once again.

Lindy In My Dreams (Dexter Dunn) led the field to the quarter in :27.1 before yielding the lead to Cash Out Express (Yannick Gingras), who rushed to the front before the half. With Adios My Lindy (Brett Beckwith) sitting third, positions remained unchanged to three-quarters and around the last turn. Then at the top of the stretch, Lindy In My Dreams tipped off the cover of Cash Out Express and trotted by the leader to win by 1-¼ lengths in 1:52.4, which was a new lifetime mark.

LINDY IN MY DREAMS REPLAY

Lindy In My Dreams ($15.40) is owned and bred by Lindy Farms of Connecticut and trained by Domenico Cecere.

The 2-year-old trotting fillies then took the track and that was won by Luxe Lindy (Walner-Decadence), who turned a pocket ride into victory.

After several horses made breaks off the gate, Nanny’s Ce Ce (Jeff Gregory) took control as Luxe Lindy (Tyler Miller) settled in second. After passing quarters in :28.2, :58.4 and 1:27.3, Nanny’s Ce Ce and Luxe Lindy were clear of the field by ten lengths around the last turn. When the pair entered the stretch, Luxe Lindy tipped and trotted right by Nanny’s Ce Ce by two lengths in 1:56.3.

LUXE LINDY REPLAY

Luxe Lindy ($6.20) is owned by Andy Miller Stable, Jean Goehlen, Little E and Coyote Wynd Farms and trained by Julie Miller. K R Breeding and Preferred Equine bred Luxe Lindy.

The 2-year-old pacing fillies lined up next with Lindy Believer (Captaintreacherous-Believe It’s Lindy) completing her Mass Stake grand slam to claim her crown.

There was a lot of action early as Sweetness Lindy (Mitchell Cushing), Lindy Believer (Yannick Gingras) and Griselda (Dexter Dunn) all took turns on the point before reaching the half in :55.4. Griselda then took the field up the backstretch where Lindy Believer pulled from second and flew to the front as she passed three-quarters in 1:23.4. Lindy Believer then rounded the last turn all by herself and opened up a 4-¼ length bulge as she crossed the line first in 1:52.4.

LINDY BELIEVER REPLAY

Lindy Believer ($2.40) is owned by Engblom Farm, R A W Equine, Evans Nation and Hickory Hollow Stables. Petter Engblom trains the Lindy Farms of Connecticut bred filly.

The 3-year-old male pacers entered the track next and Manador (Bulldog Hanover-Count To Three) pulled a major 73-1 upset in a late rush to the wire.

Beantown Dragon (Brett Beckwith) reached the quarter in :26.3 before Altair Blue Chip (Dexter Dunn) rushed to the front before the :55.3. half. The action continued up the backstretch where Hard To Forget (Yannick Gingras) started rolling from fourth and took the lead on the outside as they went past three-quarters, where Manador (Nick Graffam) was still fifth. Hard To Forget put a three length distance between himself and the field in the last turn, but when they entered the stretch, the field was getting to him. Hard To Forget was still on top but Mr. McTyge (Matty Athearn), Alcatraz Blue Chip (Corey Callahan) and Manador were all flying late, and it was Manador out widest of all who bolted to the line first by a head in 1:54.2.

MANADOR REPLAY

Manador ($148.20) is owned and bred by M&L of Delaware and trained by Jessica Okusko.

The win by Manador also marked the 1,000th career training victory for Jessica Okusko.

The 2-year-old male pacers were next and Bacchus Blue Chip (American Ideal-Sunnynseventyfive) followed last week’s record-breaking performance with a Massachusetts championship.

Top Notch Treasure (Bruce Ranger) led to the quarter in :26.3 before Sting Me (Mitchell Cushing) came flying outside to secure the front before the :54.1 half. But then Bacchus Blue Chip (Yannick Gingras) made a bid from third and was on top and pulling away at three-quarters in 1:22.3. Bacchus Blue Chip rounded the turn and entered the stretch alone, eventually winning by 4-¼ lengths in 1:52.

BACCHUS BLUE CHIP REPLAY

Bacchus Blue Chip ($2.10) is owned by Burke Racing, Larry Karr, Libby and Purnel and Frank Baldachino. Ron Burke trains the winner.

The final division was the 3-year-old filly pacers that was won by Vainglorious (Bettor’s Delight-Bronskimackenzie A), who moved early and late for the win.

Seafood Treasure (Bruce Ranger), Vainglorious (Dexter Dunn) and Two Twenty Swift (Yannick Gingras) all held the lead by the half, with Two Twenty Swift getting to that station first in :56.3. Two Twenty Swift was challenged by Sweet Cindy Lou (Corey Callahan) heading up the backstretch to three-quarters, which was reached in 1:24. Two Twenty Swift and Sweet Cindy Lou continued to battle in the stretch, but it was Vainglorious who found room just before the wire and shot through to beat both by three-quarters of a length in 1:53.

VAINGLORIOUS REPLAY

Vainglorious ($12.60) is trained, bred and co-owned by Tahnee Camilleri, in partnership with David Kryway.

 When Manador won the $165,000 Massachusetts Breeder Stakes for 3-year-old male pacers at Plainridge Park on Thursday (Oct. 29), Jessica Okusko registered the 1,000th training win of her career.

Racing will resume at Plainridge Park on Friday (Oct. 30) at 2 p.m. and there will be a $25,038 carryover in the Wicked Hi-5 pentafecta wager in the sixth race.

Also, horsemen and women and fans alike should take note that starting next week on Monday (Nov. 2), post time will be moved to 1 p.m. for the remainder of the meet, which concludes on Tuesday (Nov. 24).

Free full card past performance programs for every live card of racing at Plainridge Park can always be downloaded at their website (plainridgeparkcasino.com) under the “Racing” tab. You can also watch all the race replays on that same page.

For complete race results, click here: US Trotting results.

by Tim Bojarski, for the Standardbred Owners of Massachusetts