Massachusetts champions to be crowned Thursday at Plainridge
At 0h10, on October 24, 2024 • By Tim Bojarski, Standardbred Owners of Massachusetts
The culmination of one of the best stake seasons ever will take place at Plainridge Park when the $1.28 million finals of the Massachusetts Breeders Stake will take place on Thursday (Oct. 24). Eight divisions valued at $160,000 each will go postward in what looks to be some very competitive groupings.
2-year-old pacing colts and geldings
Digging For Gold (Huntsville-Gold Orchid N) has won three consecutive MBS since coming to Plainridge and set both new stake and track records in the process. Digging For Gold has won seven out of 10 starts this year after a very successful run in the New York Sire Stakes Excelsior Series over the summer.
2-year-old pacing fillies
It’s Crunch Time (Captain Crunch-Meghan Lynn) is two of three in MBS action with one of her wins by a whopping 16 lengths. The one race she lost was due to an untimely break after getting the lead at three-quarters and she did recover to finish third, only 2-1/2 lengths behind.
2-year-old trotting colts and geldings
Belmondo (Walner-Love Lockdown) won his last two MBS outings, took a lifetime mark and set a track and stake record with his 1:55 romp on Oct. 1. He has won handily after his initial start at Plainridge and comes into this race at the top of his game.
2-year-old trotting fillies
R Lady W (Walner-Born Lindy) has made quite an impression since coming to Massachusetts. She won both preliminary MBS divisions she competed in, while taking a new lifetime mark and tying the stake and track record with her 1:56.1 effort on Oct. 1. She has to beat a full field this week and that will be her challenge.
3-year-old pacing colts and geldings
Rocknroll Lou (Sweet Lou-Beautiful Lady) was the MBS champion at two and seems to have the inside track to repeat this year. Besides winning all three of his stake legs coming in, Rocknroll Lou also rewrote the stake record on Sept. 30 with his career best clocking of 1:51.1.
3-year-old pacing fillies
Every Mans Dream (Always B Miki-Lindy’s Nightmare) was also the MBS champion at two and hasn’t even been close to being beaten in Massachusetts in 2024. In her three straight MBS wins this year, Every Mans Dream has won by a combined 19-1/4 lengths and has also set a new stake record of 1:52.1 with her win on Sept. 23.
3-year-old trotting colts and geldings
Keep Asking (Chapter Seven-Sensibility) is another MBS champion from last year and is looking very much the part of a repeat so far. He has won two of his three MBS starts in 2024 and was a strong front-end performer in both. This is also the second year he has found success in the NYSS and that has helped his career earnings of $558,949.
3-year-old trotting fillies
Treatyofversailles (International Moni-Birthright) has won five of her last six starts and that includes two MBS in her most recent outings. Her 1:53.4 mile on Sept. 30 was a new stake record, and she looked impressive setting it. Despite drawing post seven, Treatyofversailles looks to be the one to beat.
The Massachusetts Breeders Stakes features one non-betting event at 1:45 p.m. and the remaining seven contests are programmed as races one, three, five, six, seven, eight and 10. Post time for the first race is 2 p.m.
