Trainer Lori Lockhart has been a dominant force in the stakes schedule at the Downs. In the Highland Happening Stakes run on October 7th Lori ran her Mass Bred horses to a blanket 1,2,3 finish with Reprized Dream collecting to top prize. Wepecket picked up the win in the Massachusetts Oaks (for 3-year-old Mass Bred fillies) run on October 21st

Wepecket wins the Massachusetts Oaks in hand

In a race with implications for Two-Year-Old Filly honors the Thomas Willmott owned, Anthony Ryan trained Rhubarb Red won the 9th running of the Mom's Command Stakes. Rhubarb Red and Yasou Karla split stakes wins this year and will also split the New England Turf Writers Award for Two-Year-Old fillies

The First Running of The Louise Kimball Distaff Championship

On Nov 18th Mass. Bred fillies squared off in a race to honor Louise Kimball. Louise was one of the board that established the Mass. Breeders' Fund in 1981. She was loved and respected by all who knew her. Her Kimstead Farm in Pepperell stood many of the studs in Massachusetts,  including Great Mystery.  The farm was a source of equine inspiration and many girls went from there to careers as vets and trainers .According to Susan Walsh , Louise had "more joie de vivre than anyone I've ever met." The winner's circle was full after the race. Louise's daughter "Dotsie" Prozeller supplied treats for the winner. 

High in the Saddle- Weepecket wins again

Three-year-old Weepecket continued her domination of the Massachusetts State Breeders' Program with her third stakes victory. Despite having the saddle slip Weepecket went wire to wire and held off Binelong Rose. Trainer Lori Lockhart is having a great Autumn Meet. Many of her Mass. Bred runners have dominated the program.

(Thanks to Susan Walsh for providing background information on Louise Kimball)

 Trainer-Lori Lockhart

Apples for the Winner

No more room in the Winners Circle

Two races after the Kimball, in the approaching darkness,  Difficult Doll registered her eleventh victory of the year. Going into the race she was tied for the most wins for the year. Difficult Doll is owned by Michael Gil, trained by Osvaldo Rivera and was ridden to victory by Wilfredo Lozano Jr.

Another Win for Difficult Doll

               The Massachusetts Thoroughbred                Breeders' Championship

As the racing year winds down the Mass Breeders conducted the 7th running of the Breeders' Championship on December 2nd. Three-year-old filly Weepecket was looking to make it four in a row. She ran a game race to the top of the stretch but couldn't hold off John Assimakopoulos' Al Bark. Ridden by top jockey Joe Hampshire Al Bark drew off to a two length win.

Al Bark wins the Mass. Breeders' Championship

Earlier in the day Difficult Doll tried to add to her lead in the number of wins for the year. In a day which saw many high priced tickets cashed Richard Fruzzetti's Royal Raven won the featured allowance race at 29 to 1 defeating a good field which included Difficult Doll, Kayla's A Gem, and Champagneforlisa. Richard also saddled Tasmanian Warrior for another 29 to 1 winner two races later.

Royal Raven lights up Tote Board