Standardbred Owners of Massachusetts

07/16/2026

Homicide Hunter will lead post parade for the Spirit of Massachusetts Trot

On Sunday, July 19, Plainridge Park will once again host their signature stakes, the G2 $300,000 Spirit of Massachusetts Trot and G3 $150,000 Clara Barton Distaff Pace, when the Grand Circuit rolls into town. But along with all of today’s trotting stars that will be on hand to compete in the Spirit, thanks to a sponsorship by Plainridge Park, the Standardbred Owners of Massachusetts and the Harness Horseman’s Association of New England, another World Champion trotting star from almost a decade ago, who is now a champion in another lane, will also make an appearance.

Homicide Hunter, who became the fastest trotter in harness racing history after posting his 1:48.4 mile in a Grand Circuit event at The Red Mile in 2018, will be at Plainridge Park for a meet and greet with the fans, and to lead the post parade for the ninth edition of The Spirit of Massachusetts Trot.

That 1:48.4 mile time helped Homicide Hunter to be named Older Male Trotter of the Year in 2018 by the United States Harness Writers Association. He retired from racing two years later with over $1.7 million in earnings, but almost immediately started a new career that has seen him rise back to the top.

Nancy Longobardi is a Director of the Standardbred Owners of Massachusetts and she is extremely excited for Homicide Hunter’s visit.


“Jolene Andrews is one of our trainers at Plainridge and she told us about the success Homicide Hunter has had in his new career after racing, and suggested he would be a perfect fit for our Spirit Day activities. So we contacted Molly D'Aogstino and the whole thing came together rather quickly.

"We look forward to having the whole MMXX Team here along with Homi, as we continue to champion for and support a second career for all our race horses,” said Longobardi.


Under the ownership of Crawford Farms Racing of Syracuse, New York, Homicide Hunter is the star of MMXX Standardbreds, a non-profit Standardbred show team and aftercare initiative that is helping to reshape what life after racing looks like for Standardbreds. His new career as a show horse has been nothing less than spectacular as he has seemingly mastered all the disciplines he competes in.

Molly D’Agostino founded MMXX Standardbreds in 2020 and they have since excelled in the transition of vetted adoptions from racing owners and trainers to riding homes. Since 2023, the program has completed 400 adoptions at no cost to the connections of the horses.

Once the Standardbreds arrive from racing, they receive training for the change to riding, and are conditioned to get accustomed to structured training environments. The MMXX program has made horses who have gone through it, some of the most accessible and beginner-friendly riding horses in the industry and suitable for immediate transition into riding homes.

Although many other retired Standardbreds have excelled as show horses through MMXX, none have had the notoriety of Homicide Hunter coming from the track.

Michelle Panebianco is the Owner and CEO of Crawford Farms Racing and Homicide Hunter, and is a major supporter of MMXX Standardbreds. She has placed other horses from her racing operation with MMXX and has watched them succeed. But in an interview she did earlier this year, Crawford clearly puts “Homi” at the top of her list.

“He’s just so special. On the racetrack, he was defined by speed and straight lines. In the show ring, success demands something entirely different: rhythm, softness, adjustability and expression. His transition highlights a truth that MMXX Standardbreds is working to bring into the mainstream," said Crawford.

Here is a list of awards Homicide Hunter won in just his first year of competition in 2025.

Standardbred Pleasure Horse Organization (SPHO) United States Horse of the Year
SPHO National Year-end Rookie of the Year
SPHO National War Horse of the Year
SPHO National In-Hand Champion
SPHO National Two-Gait Champion
Tri-State Horseman’s Association Gaited Reserve
Downeast Performance Series Green Res Champion
Pinto Horse Association World Champion

Riders Sydney Espinoza and Emily Furno both guided Homicide Hunter in his award winning competitions last year.

This will be the only live meet and greet this year with Homicide Hunter, who remains one of the fastest trotters of all time.

You will also have the opportunity to meet some of the riders from Team MMXX including World Champion Rider, Grace Glasko of Chepachet, Rhode Island.

Homicide Hunter will have his own paddock adjacent to the grandstand where he will meet his fans and you will be able to take photos with him, the MMXX team and the famous PtHA World Championship Buckle!

Post time for the first race on Spirit Sunday is 2:00 p.m.

06/11/2026

Eligible Massachusetts Breeders Stake 3-year-olds for 2026.

06/11/2026

Eligible Massachusetts Breeders Stake 2-year-olds for 2026.

04/14/2026

Massachusetts Breeders Stakes payments due April 15

Owners and trainers of horses eligible to the Massachusetts Breeders Stake are reminded that the 2026 sustaining payments for all two- and three-year-old contenders are due by Wednesday, April 15.

The two-year-old payment is $200 and the three-year-old payment is $300. If there has been a change of name or ownership, please submit a copy of the registration certificate at the same time.

The necessary form for this payment is available for download at

04/10/2026

Plainridge Park welcomes back live racing Monday

Live racing returns to New England’s premier harness track on Monday (April 13) at 4 p.m. when Plainridge Park opens its 2026 season. The 110 day meet will run through Tuesday (Nov. 24) and feature some of the best horses, drivers and trainers in North America who will compete in hi-caliber overnight and stake action all year long.

The first two cards are drawn and track personnel have been hard at work for weeks now getting the barn area, paddock, track and grandstand, all "race ready" for the participants and fans on opening day.



“It’s been a very hard winter here and we’ve put in a lot of time getting things ready for the opening. But it will be great to see all our horse people shipping back in and welcome back all our loyal patrons, both on and off track. Harness racing is not only an excellent compliment to the entertainment and gaming offered at Plainridge Park, it also employs hundreds of people and contributes substantially to the local economy, making it a win for everyone involved,” said Steve O’Toole, Director Of Live Racing at Plainridge Park.



The racing schedule changes several times throughout the season, but starts in April with a Monday-Tuesday-Thursday rotation before switching to a four day, Monday-Tuesday-Thursday-Friday slate in May and June. Then it reverts back to the Monday-Tuesday-Thursday three day format in July, August and September. October will have four days once again on Monday-Tuesday-Thursday-Friday, before closing the session in November with three days on Monday-Tuesday-Thursday.



Post times also vary through the year. From April to August it’s 4 p.m. In September and October, post time rolls back to 2 p.m. And then in November it moves back once more to 1 p.m.



There are three exceptions in the schedule to note. Plainridge will race on Saturday (May 2) and Saturday (May 16) with special Derby and Preakness promotions, and with the same 4 p.m. post. Then there is Sunday (July 19) when Plainridge presents the Spirit of Massachusetts Trot and Clara Barton Distaff Pace, starting at 2 p.m.



The driver colony remains one of the best around and will have all the top reinsmen returning this year.



Last year’s leading dash winning driver at Plainridge, Bruce Ranger, will look to defend that title against a stellar roster of resident reinsmen including Brett Beckwith, who fell just three wins shy of that title himself in 2025. Beckwith is currently the second leading dash driver in North America (behind only Aaron Merriman) and is currently the leading driver at both The Meadowlands and Saratoga Raceway by a large margin.



Joining them will be Nick Graffam, Mitchell Cushing, Matty Athearn and Kevin Switzer Jr., who all won in excess of 100 races at The Ridge last season, along with many other talented sulky-sitters.



On the training side, Gretchen Athearn, who won her first conditioning title at Plainridge last year with a total of 52 wins, will return with a powerful string of horses and look to double up on those honors. Athearn is currently campaigning last year’s horse of the year at Plainridge, Always Bstunning N, on the Grand Circuit at Yonkers Raceway in the Ursula McIntyre series, but the highly esteemed mare will return to compete at Plainridge later this year.



Jimmy Nickerson, who had been the leading trainer at Plainridge for four straight years before finishing second to Athearn last year, will also be bringing back a large string of solid horses this season to try and win back his crown.



Domenico Cecere, who finished third in the win standings while posting an unbelievable .514 UTR in 2025, will also be returning along with a host of local favorites including Jolene Andrews, Jeff Cullipher, Mike Graffam, Kathleen Brewer, Julia Eaton, Jackie Greene, Mitchell Cushing and Melissa Beckwith, to name a few.



The 2026 meet will again be rich in stakes action, including four United States Trotting Association graded stakes that will make up a total of six Grand Circuit races with combined purses of almost three-quarters of a million dollars up for grabs.



First on the schedule is the $100,000 Paul Revere Open Pace for 3-year-olds which will be held on Saturday (May 2). Then on Saturday (May 16), the $100,000 Battle Of Bunker Hill 3-year-old trot will go postward. Both of these races are Grade 3 stakes.



Then on Sunday (July 19), it’s the Grade 2 Stake, Spirit Of Massachusetts Trot, which will be contested for $300,000 this year. Also that day is the Grade 3 Stake, Clara Barton Distaff Pace, which also had a purse increase to $150,000 this year.



Then on Monday (Oct. 12) it’s the Reynolds Stake for 3-year-old pacers, which will be contested by gender. The Tar Heel is the $40,000 c**t and gelding division and The Leta Long is the $40,000 fillies division.



Finally, the fall classic $3.2 million (est) Massachusetts Breeder Stakes starts on Monday (Sept. 28) and features three preliminary legs before culminating on Thursday (Oct. 29) when the finals will be contested.



Here is a complete schedule for this year’s Massachusetts Sire Stakes:



Monday, September 28, 2026

2-year-old First Leg



Tuesday, September 29, 2026

3-year-old First Leg



Monday, October 5, 2026

2-year-old Second Leg



Tuesday, October 6, 2026

3-year-old Second Leg



Monday, October 19, 2026

2-year-old Third Leg



Tuesday, October 20, 2026

3-year-old Third Leg



Thursday, October 29, 2026

2 and 3-year-old Finals



These stake races are made possible by the continued support of the Massachusetts Race Horse Development Fund and the local horsemen and women of the Harness Horseman's Association of New England.



As far as wagering goes, there is a new feature bet at Plainridge this year and it’s the Rolling Double. Every race now has a Double wager. Race one and two, race two and three, race three and four, and so on.



On a regular 10-race program, this year’s betting menu includes win, place, show, exacta, trifecta rolling double and superfecta wagering in every race, except in race six and nine where the superfecta is replaced by the Wicked Hi-5 pentafecta. Then there is a Pick-3 in race three and six and a Pick-4 in race five.



And once again, fans will be able to download free full past performance programs from the Plainridge Park website at plainridgeparkcasino.com/racing, where they can also view replays of all the racing action along with finding more information pertaining to the upcoming meet.

01/21/2026

All necessary documents for 2026 including continuation and nomination forms are now available for download at the SOMINC website by clicking this link. The next deadline is February 15.

Download forms for the Standardbred Owners of Massachuetts.

11/06/2025

Bonnie Jeanne Rush, 77, dies
By Tim Bojarski for the Standardbred Owners of Massachusetts

Bonnie Jeanne Rush of Plainville, Massachusetts passed away peacefully on Thursday, October 30, 2025 at Southeast Rehabilitation in North Eastern, Massachusetts. She was 77.

Born in Springfield, Ohio in 1948 to Ford Edward Rush Jr. and Barbara Jean Rush, Bonnie Rush was always involved with horses. She grew up in Foxboro, Massachusetts, in the shadow of Foxboro Park and was first introduced to Standardbreds as an 11-year-old at that track. When she got older, she began in the business as a groom. Eventually she became an owner, trainer, breeder, and a driver of both trotters and pacers.

Ms. Rush’s racing career began in 1970 and she received her provisional license at Suffolk Downs in Boston and started driving at tracks in Maine.

Her first foray onto a major circuit as a full-fledged driver came at Rockingham Park on November 24, 1970 and the event was highly publicized. A New Hampshire newspaper reported that “Harness racing fans will get to see a driver with flowing blonde hair and delicate hands make her debut at Rockingham Park. It will be the first time since Bobbe Huntress and June Dillman thrilled fans a few years ago, that a distaff driver has dared to race against the stronger sex.”

Ms. Rush and her stable made their way to Pocono Downs in 1972, where she set up shop for the meet and started to show the industry how strong she really was. On May 7, she made history at the resort track while driving a pacer named Dino Minbar, who she also owned and trained. Ms. Rush won the eighth race in 2:06.3 and became the first woman ever to win a race at Pocono Downs. The event made national news and was seen in papers across the country.

Another noteworthy win for Ms. Rush came in 1993 at Yonkers Raceway when she won with a pacer she owned and trained named Cast Iron at 117-1 from post eight in 1:57.4 while beating Herve Filion, Ted Wing, Luc Oullette and Walter Case Jr.

Although she traveled much of the eastern part of North America to race during her career, Ms. Rush was always at home in New England and competed at Plainridge Park from the time it opened until 2019 when she stepped away from the business in retirement.

When she did return to Massachusetts, Ms. Rush lived and worked at Idyll River Farm in Plympton, Massachusetts with her partner, Paul Magan. Together they bred, trained and raced their own horses as well as the Idyll River horses.

Trying to assign accurate statistics to Ms. Rush’s career is next to impossible because more than half of it took place prior to 1992, which is not in the USTA data set. But an estimate of her combined training and driving wins would be around 800 with earnings of over $2 million.

During her life, Ms. Rush also owned, trained and successfully competed Quarter Horses in barrel racing, worked for Bing Crosby’s stables, trained Thoroughbreds and was an outrider at tracks in Florida. She also served on the Board of Directors of the Standardbred Owners of Massachusetts and was a member of the Harness Horseman's Association of New England.

Ms. Rush is survived by her sister Barbara J. Rose and Joseph Rose of Taunton, Massachusetts, a nephew Joshua Rose and his wife Kamala, Deerfield Massachusetts, one niece, Brandy J. Gullens, of Taunton, Massachusetts and her Godchild, Tabitha Gullens of North Eastern, Massachusetts.

Relatives and friends are kindly invited to attend calling hours on Wednesday, November 19, 2025 from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. at the Roberts and Sons Funeral Home, 30 South Street in Foxboro, Massachusetts. A memorial service will be held at 6 p.m. at the conclusion of calling hours at the funeral home.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in Ms. Rush’s name to: Futures for Standardbreds (futuresforstandardbreds.org), Standardbred Retirement Foundation (adoptahorse.org), the Standardbred Transition (standardbredtransition.org) or Hospice Care.

(The attached photo is Ms. Rush, on the right, after becoming the first woman to ever win a race at Pocono Downs)

10/30/2025

Massachusetts Breeders Stakes finals held at Plainridge Park
By Tim Bojarski
(Photos courtesy of Tom Melanson)

Plainridge Park played host to the $1.2 million Massachusetts Breeders Stake finals on Thursday (Oct. 30) where eight $150,000 divisions of the best state-bred trotters and pacers went postward on an afternoon that featured inclement weather and an off-track. But despite those conditions, several big miles were thrown as the eight champions were crowned.

Highlights of the afternoon included four new lifetime marks, a driving triple by Dexter Dunn, training doubles by Domenico Cecere and George Ducharme and three crowned champions sired by Huntsville, including a 24-1 upset winner in the glamour division nightcap.

Here is a complete recap of the day’s stakes action.

Massachusetts Breeders Stake 2-year-old filly trot
Champion - Lindy In My Dreams (Ready For Moni-Lindy Of My Dreams) 1:54.4, $3.80

Driver-Dexter Dunn
Trainer-Domenico Cecere
Owner-Lindy Farms of Connecticut
Breeder-Lindy Farms of Connecticut

Lindy In My Dreams led to the quarter, where Cash Out Express (Matt Kakaley) was on the outside to overtake the top spot as they headed in front of the stands. Cash Out Express got to the half in :57 when Fairytale Moni (Nick Graffam) had pulled first-over and was nearing the leader. Cash Out Express continued to call the shots while holding Fairytale Moni at bay, and Lindy In My Dreams benefited from the cover. Positions remained unchanged around the far turn, but when they entered the stretch, Dunn found room at the pegs for Lindy In My Dreams and the filly shot right through and won by one-quarter length in 1:54.4.

Massachusetts Breeders Stake 3-year-old c**t and gelding trot
Champion - My Degenerate (Muscle Hill-Decadence) 1:53.4, $4.40

Driver-Andy Miller
Trainer-Julie Miller
Owner-Knutsson Trotting, Little E, Lindy Farms of Connecticut and Andy Miller Stable
Breeder-K R Breeding and Preferred Equine

In a multi-horse scramble for the lead, Moni Man (Brett Beckwith) got there first, but yeilded to Te Quiero Lindy (Tyler Miller), who then succumbed to stablemate My Degenerate, and all in a quick :27.1 quarter. Once in command, My Degenerate was clearly the best of the bunch as he marched off fractions of :56.1 and 1:24.4 without any dire challenges. My Degenerate then rounded the last bend and trotted home under a line drive to hold off Moni Man by two lengths for the win in 1:53.4, just two-fifths off the stake record.

Massachusetts Breeders Stake 3-year-old filly trot
Champion - Tactical Moni (Tactical Landing-All Our Moni) 1:52.4, $2.40

Driver-Dexter Dunn
Trainer-Domenico Cecere
Owner-Moni Maker Stable
Breeder-Moni Maker Stable

Tactical Moni got away third early as Corner Store (Brett Beckwith) overtook Global Heritage (Yannick Gingras) for the lead in a brisk :26.4 quarter. But Dunn then immediately moved first-up, took command at three-eighths and never looked back from there. Tactical Moni reached three-quarters in 1:24.1 while fighting off a challenge by R Lady W (Matt Kakaley), and then saw another push come from Corner Store at the head of the lane. But nothing fazed Tactical Moni, who drove home under wraps for an easy two-length victory in 1:52.4, which was her fourth straight win in Massachusetts and sixth win in a row overall.

Massachusetts Breeders Stake 2-year-old c**t and gelding trot
Champion - Geologic (Captain Corey-Crystalline) 1:56.1 (LTM), $4.40

Driver-Yannick Gingras
Trainer-Paul Kelley
Owner-Paul Kelley Racing, Go For Glory Stable, Matthew Lamont and VIP Internet Stable
Breeder-Ray Campbell Jr.

Mother's Moni (Dexter Dunn) took a quick lead, but made a break rounding the first turn. That left Geologic as commander of fractions and he dominated the race for the duration. With an eight length lead, Geologic got to the half in :57.2 and extended it to 15 lengths at three-quarters in 1:26.3. By the top of the stretch, Geologic was long gone and ended up winning by 19-¾ lengths at the line in a career best time of 1:56.1.

Massachusetts Breeders Stake 2-year-old filly pace
Champion - Two Twenty Swift (Huntsville-Jag Out) 1:54.2, $5.40

Driver-Brett Beckwith
Trainer-Deborah Daguet
Owner-Donald Mac Rae and Beasty
Breeder-Ross Bonafield

Two Twenty Swift and Perfect Lynn (Yannick Gingras) traded leads before Two Twenty Swift finally took control passing three-eighths. Once on top, Two Twenty Swift reached the half in :56.2 and three-quarters in 1:24.3 as Perfect Lynn and Vainglorious (Dexter Dunn) jockeyed for position while in chase. At the top of the lane it was all Two Twenty Swift, who left behind her competition and cruised home easily by two lengths in 1:54.2.

Massachusetts Breeders Stake 2-year-old c**t and gelding pace
Champion - Beantown Dragon (Fear The Dragon-Ace Of Pace) 1:55.2 (LTM), $15.40

Driver-Dexter Dunn
Trainer-George Ducharme
Owner-Michael Goldberg Racing
Breeder-Michael Goldberg Racing

Beantown Dragon got away fourth as Manador took the lead passing the :27.4 quarter. As the race went by the half in :57.2, an outer-flow formed, led by Hard To Forget (Matt Kakaley) who was followed by Beantown Dragon. As the bunched group made their way through turn three, Manador continued to lead, but Hard To Forget seemed to stall. That forced Beantown Dragon to tip three-deep as they entered the stretch. Heading down the lane, Manador, Hard To Forget and Beantown Dragon were pacing within a length of each other but as they reached deep stretch, Beantown Dragon forged ahead in the final steps to win by a nose in a new lifetime mark of 1:55.2.

Massachusetts Breeders Stake 3-year-old filly pace - Champion
Beantown Deuce (Huntsville-Don't Think Twice) 1:53.4 (LTM), $3.00

Driver-Matt Kakaley
Trainer-George Ducharme
Owner-Michael Goldberg Racing
Breeder-Michael Goldberg Racing

Seafood CC (Jim Hardy) had the lead at the :27 quarter, but saw Beantown Deuce breeze by from third passing that station to take control. Beantown Deuce then paced strongly on the lead to the half in :56.4 and three-quarters in 1:25. When he entered the turn, Beantown Deuce swelled up and started to separate from the field. He had a five length lead at the top of the stretch and extended it to 9-½ at the line for his third win in a row in a lifetime-best clocking of 1:53.4.

Massachusetts Breeders Stake 3-year-old c**t and gelding pace
Champion - RJs Red Devil (Huntsville-Ruthie J Killean) 1:51.2 (LTM), $51.60

Driver-Matt Kakaley
Trainer-Travia Alexander
Owner-Fiddler’s Creek Stables
Breeder-Fiddler’s Creek Stables

RJs Red Devil got away fifth as Seafood Star (Jim Hardy), Courageous Warrior (Matty Athearn) and Jon I Love Dat (Yannick Gingras) battled mercilessly in a fast :25.3 quarter. Jon I Love Dat finally won that war and reached the half in :54.3. At that point, Courageous Warrior pulled for his second try for the front, had a fresh Southpaw (Dexter Dunn) on his back and RJs Red Devil third-over in the breeze drafting behind the action. Positions remained unchanged around the final turn but as they entered the stretch, Courageous Warrior took the lead from Jon I Love Dat, and then Southpaw passed Courageous Warrior. But it was RJs Red Devil who was five-wide in the stretch that ran down Southpaw to win by a 1-¼ lengths at 24-1 and take a new lifetime mark of 1:51.2.

10/22/2025

10/22/2025

Courageous Warrior sets records in Massachusetts Breeders Stakes

By Tim Bojarski

(Photos courtesy of Tom Melanson)

Plainridge Park hosted the third leg of 3-year-olds competing in the $3.2 million Massachusetts Breeders Stakes on Tuesday (Oct. 21) and pacer Courageous Warrior put on quite a show after scoring an upset win while setting several records as a result.

It was the second $45,000 division of pacing c**ts and geldings that was won by Courageous Warrior (Hunstville-Chief Karen), who went gate to wire at 24-1.

Courageous Warrior (Matty Athearn) grabbed a quick lead and then was hounded by Seafood Neighneigh (Bruce Ranger) through a vicious :26 quarter before Seafood Neighneigh would seat second, just before the half. Courageous Warrior then opened up a five length lead heading up the backstretch, before Jon I Love Dat (Yannick Gingras) pulled from third and eventually caught up to be a close second at three-quarters in 1:21.3. Heading around the last turn, Jon I Love Dat continued to draft behind Courageous Warrior before pulling in the stretch, but he could not catch Courageous Warrior who paced home clear on top by 2-½ lengths in 1:50.2.

The time was a new lifetime mark for Courageous Warrior, set a new Massachusetts Breeders Stake record for a 3-year-old male pacer and established him as the fastest 3-year-old pacing gelding ever bred in Massachusetts.

Courageous Warrior ($50.80) is owned by Curran Racing and Nickerson Racing, who also bred the winner in partnership with Adam Michael. Jimmy Nickerson trains the winner.

Going back to the top of the order, the first race of the day was the first $45,000 division of trotting fillies and Tactical Moni (Tactical Landing-All Our Moni) ran her winning streak to five in a row off an easy victory.

Tactical Moni (Yannick Gingras) got away second behind Peach Cocktail (Matty Athearn), but pulled just before the quarter to take command for good. After trotting to the half in :56.1 and three-quarters in 1:24.3, Tactical Moni bolted around the far turn and quickly pulled away to an easy 4-½ length win in 1:53.1.

It was the third straight Mass stake victory for Tactical Moni ($2.20) who is owned and bred by Moni Maker Stable.

The next event was the first $45,000 division of pacing fillies where Beantown Deuce (Huntsville-Don't Think Twice) went gate to wire in a career best clocking.

Beantown Deuce (Matt Kakaley) took no prisoners off the gate, going right to the front and clicking off quarters of :27.3, :56.2 and 1:24.3 with Wassail Blue Chip (Yannick Gingras) following closely in the pocket. Halfway through the last turn, Wassail Blue Chip pulled to advance, and engaged Beantown Deuce at the top of the stretch. But Beantown Deuce turned that challenge away and won by 1-¼ lengths in a lifetime best, 1:52.4.

Beantown Deuce ($3.00) is owned by Michael Goldberg Racing, who also bred the filly in partnership with Andrew Harris Racing.

The second $45,000 split for trotting fillies was up next and produced another round trip winner in Corner Store (Six Pack-Seven Eleven).

Global Heritage (Yannick Gingras) battled with Corner Store (Brett Beckwith) to the quarter before Corner Store took the lead at the :27.3 quarter. The top positions then remained the same past the half, up the backside and around the far turn before Global Heritage vacated the pocket and tried to chase down Corner Store. The pair matched strides into deep stretch, but Corner Store never gave way and won by a neck in 1:53.2.

Corner Store ($4.20) is owned by her trainer, Paul Kelley, in partnership with Matthew Lamont, Ellen Palillo and Leo Bauer.

William Johnson bred Corner Store.

Then the second $45,000 division of pacing fillies entered the track with Beantown Roberta (Papi Rob Hanover-Ace Of Pace) pulling the 17-1 upset in her first win of the year.

Beantown Roberta (Matty Athearn) got away third as Seafood CC (Yannick Gingras) led through quarters of :28 and :57.1. As the race headed to three-quarters, Moneymakesherhappy (Brett Beckwith) brushed to the lead, but then Treacherous Idol (Nick Graffam) paced alongside around the last turn and forged ahead at the top of the stretch. But it was Beantown Roberta who shook loose in the middle of the stretch and paced home the best by one-half length in 1:56.2.

Beantown Roberta ($37.20) is owned and trained by Wil Dubois.

Beantown Roberta was bred by Michael Goldberg Racing.

Then the second $45,000 leg of pacing c**ts and geldings went to post with Southpaw (American Ideal-Love You Bye) scoring a dominant victory.

Southpaw (Jimmy Whittemore) was an unchallenged leader and cut fractions of :28.2, :57.2 and 1:24.4 before a challenge finally came from Digging For Gold (Nick Graffam) who pulled from third to try and challenge. Digging For Gold got to within 1-½ lengths of the leader at the top of the stretch, but that was as close as he'd get as Southpaw closed the deal in 1:52.4.

Southpaw ($4.80) is owned, trained and bred by his driver, Jimmy Whittemore.

The final race of the day was a single $75,000 division of trotting c**ts and geldings where Te Quiero Lindy (Walner-Adios Lindy) turned an early move into his second stakes win.

Te Quiero Lindy (Tyler Miller) got away third before pulling right before the quarter to take the lead from Castle Lindy (Yannick Gingras). With Moni Man (Brett Beckwith) sitting third, Te Quiero Lindy led the pack to the half in 56.4, three-quarters in 1:24.3 and then around the far turn for the second time. At the top of the stretch, Castle Lindy pulled and Moni Man tipped three deep, both in chase of the leader. However the leader would not relent and held them both off to win by one-half length in 1:55.

Te Quiero Lindy ($7.40) is owned by Andy Miller Stable, Patrick Hoopes and Lindy Farms of Connecticut, who also bred the winner.

The $1.2 million finals of the Massachusetts Breeders Stakes will be held at Plainridge Park on Thursday (Oct. 30).