$2.24 million Massachusetts stakes start Sunday at Plainridge Park

The $2.24 million (est.) Massachusetts Sire Stakes kicks off at Plainridge Park this weekend on Sunday (Sept. 26) when 3-year-olds of both gaits and sexes will make their first starts in the state-bred series and continues on Monday (Sept. 27) when the 2-year-olds will hit the track.

All eight divisions will go for $60,000, making the first weekend’s purse total $480,000.

The stakes feature three preliminary legs for both age groups and culminate with eight $100,000 (est.) finals that will be held at Plainridge on Monday (Oct. 25).

Horses from the barns of stake regular trainers George Ducharme, Domenico Cecere, Kevin Switzer and Sheena Cohen will be joined by many other national conditioners this year including Hall of Famer Ron Burke, Ake Svanstedt and Jessica Okusko. Hall of Fame driver Yannick Gingras will also be at Plainridge both days with drives in most of the divisions.

This year the Massachusetts Sire Stakes holds the possibility of being the most productive on the track with some of its best performers ever bred slated to go postward. Since 2017, every Massachusetts stake record has been broken at least once. Seven records were broken last year alone (five new, two of them broken twice) including all four pacing categories.

First race post time Sunday is 2:00 pm.