Stakes recaps

By Tim Bojarski, For The Standardbred Owners Of Massachusetts

The track record for 3-year-old trotting geldings at Plainridge Park was rewritten on Thursday afternoon (May 16) after Spaaaanzano (Coraggioso-Grace N Charlie) put on a sparkling gate-to-wire performance to claim victory in the $100,000 Battle of Bunker Hill Trot.

North America’s leading dash driver, Aaron Merriman, sent Spaaaanzano to the front and seated the field in a :27.2 quarter. Once in control, Merriman slammed on the brakes with a :30.1 second panel and basically won the race there. Spaaaanzano then sped to the three-quarter pole in :27.4 as Show Me (Andy Miller), on the pegs, and French Kronos (Mattias Melander), in the breeze, chased closest from behind. Spaaaanzano circled the final turn and hit the stretch in full flight and then bolted to the line on top by 2-1/2 lengths, winning in 1:53.2.

The time, a new lifetime mark for Spaaaanzano, also replaced the old divisional track record of 1:53.3 set by Khaosan Road exactly one year ago in this race. The stakes record is 1:53, set by the colt Jonas K S in 2022.

It was the first win in only the second start of the year for Spaaaanzano ($4.80), and it pushed the 2023 Ohio Sires Stakes star’s lifetime earnings to $322,150. Spaaaanzano is owned by his trainer, Chris Beaver, in partnership with Spaaaartners, Bill Manes and Leo Fleming.

Khaosan Road sets track record in Bunker Hill Trot at Plainridge

May 23

Fresh off his victory in the $137,775 Dexter Cup just nine days ago, Khaosan Road (International Moni-Jewels In The Sand) came right back and captured the $100,000 Bunker Hill Trot in track record time at Plainridge Park on Monday afternoon (May 15).

Herodotus (David Miller) flew off the gate and opened up a quick two length lead before Scott Zeron and Khaosan Road came calling on the outside as they trotted by the quarter in a quick :27 flat. Khaosan Road cleared in front of the stands, but Miller was right back out with Herodotus and crossed over to retake the front before they hit the half. With the field in a loose lineup heading up the backside, Bright Expectation (Aaron Merriman) was the first to make a move and got to second in the breeze, locking Khaosan Road at the pegs.

As they headed into the last turn, Herodotus opened up another two length gap and as Bright Expectation faded, Khaosan Road had his opening and Inter Mischief (Kevin Switzer Jr.) followed right on his back. As they headed down the stretch, Herodotus still looked strong, but Khaosan Road was full of trot. Zeron gave him his head and then line-drove him to the wire to win by one length over the fast closing Inter Mischief and Spitfire Oversees (Anthony Macdonald) in 1:53.3. The time was a new lifetime mark for the winner and also a new Plainridge Park track record for 3-year-old trotting geldings.

Khaosan Road ($12.40) remains unbeaten this year and his second consecutive stake victory boosted his seasonal earnings to $118,887 for owners Knutsson Trotting and Little E. Ake Svanstedt trains the winner.

Svanstedt also remains unbeaten in the Bunker Hill Trot. He trained last year’s winner Jonas KS, who with his effort, set a new track record of 1:53 for 3-year-old trotting colts and also established the existing time standard for this stake.

The former track record for 3-year-old trotting geldings was 1:54 and it was both set and tied in 2021 by New Legacy and Blue Knight.

Jonas K S breaks Plainridge track record in Battle of Bunker Hill Trot

May 16, 2022, By Tim Bojarski for the Standardbred Owners of Massachusetts

While making only the second start of his career, Jonas K S (Centurion ATM-Crown Classic) put in an overpowering performance and set a new track record for 3-year-old trotting colts after winning the inaugural $100,000 Battle of Bunker Hill Trot at Plainridge Park on Monday afternoon (May 16).

Driver Kevin Switzer Jr. left sharply with Jonas K S and kept post time favorite S I P (Yannick Gingras) in the pocket as they hit the quarter in :27. After rolling past that station, Gingras tipped S I P and tried to advance but Jonas K S trotted on and put him back in the hole. The group hit the half in :55.1 when Wily Wally (Bruce Ranger) pulled from third and tried to push the issue.

Jonas K S maintained his 1-1/2 length lead up the backstretch and to the three-quarters in 1:23.3 while Wily Wally hung outside and S I P waited in the pocket to make his bid at the top of the stretch. But when Gingras tipped S I P as they hit the stretch, he made a break and Jonas K S was home free. He motored down the lane to the wire on top by 12-1/2 lengths and took a new lifetime mark, as well as the track record, with a 1:53 clocking.

“He’s a very nice horse. They said he was a little lazy so I scored him down pretty good and put him right on the gate and gave him a shot. When S I P came at him past the quarter he was pretty grabby so I just kept him rolling and hoped for the best,” said Switzer. “Even if S I P didn’t break at the head of the stretch, I don’t think he would have beaten my horse. I think the only way he’d have lost today is if he beat himself. That was a heck of a mile.”

Jonas K S ($8.60) is now a perfect two for two lifetime with $56,000 earned for owners Knutsson Trotting (who also bred the winner), Little E and Stall Kalmar. Ake Svanstedt trains the winner.

The Grand Circuit will make one more stop at Plainridge Park this year on Sunday (July 24) for the $250,000 Spirit of Massachusetts Trot and $100,000 Clara Barton Distaff Pace.