Plainridge Park: Manchego expected to supplement to Spirit of Massachusetts
At 0h02, on July 20, 2021 • By PLAINRIDGE
The Grand Circuit returns to Plainridge Park on Sunday (July 25) when the track will host the fourth edition of the $250,000 Spirit of Massachusetts Trot. The race that has produced the greatest trotting performances ever witnessed in the Commonwealth will once again be complemented by the $100,000 Clara Barton Distaff Pace. And for the first time in several years, the Bert Beckwith Memorial Pace will return and go postward with a purse of $50,000.
The Spirit of Massachusetts Trot became an instant classic in 2017 when 60-1 JL Cruze upset the heavily favored Hannelore Hanover by a length in 1:51 2/5. It was a new all-time track trotting record set in front of a full house of excited fans. Last year Manchego came to town and left everyone in her wake as she sped to victory in an eye-popping 1:49 3/5 mile. That time not only rewrote the track record book, it also set a new World Record for aged trotting mares over a 5/8th’s mile track.
The 2021 field of eligibles is another strong group led by the 2019 Hambletonian winner Forbidden Trade, $2 million winner Crystal Fashion and millionaires Amigo Volo, When Dovescry, Lindy The Great and Guardian Angel AS, who won the 2019 Spirit.
While not eligible, DRF Harness has learned that Manchego will be supplemented to the event for $20,000. Trainer Nancy Takter said the mare, who just won at The Meadowlands in 1:49 4/5 on July 17, needed a race leading up to John Cashman Memorial on Hambletonian Day at The Meadowlands.
Since its inception in 2019, the Clara Barton has been owned by the great Shartin N. In her first stake win at Plainridge in 1:49 1/5 she set a new all-time track pacing record. But she was far from done and for her encore in 2020, Shartin N blistered a 1:48 2/5 mile, cracking her own mark.
This year’s Clara Barton has 21 eligibles that includes JK First Lady, who just set a world record of 1:47 4/5 for 4-year-old pacing mares in the $178,500 Dorothy Haughton Memorial at the Meadowlands on Saturday (July 18). Also eligible is Lyon’s Sentinel, who held that record for two weeks after winning The Artiscape in 1:48 flat at the Meadowlands on Saturday (July 3). If both of these fleet mares declare, Shartin N’s track records could be in jeopardy.
