EAST BOSTON — It was a soggy end to the third weekend of live racing and food trucks at Suffolk Downs, as rains left over from Hurricane Harvey lashed the area for most of the day.
Still, the track was able to run the $50,000 Massachusetts Stallion Stakes.
Jeb, a 5-year-old daughter of Zong, bred in Massachusetts by Kenneth Posco, went to post as the favorite and delivered with a 1¼-length victory in the 6-furlong contest. Ridden by Luis Perez and trained by Dylan Clarke, the chestnut mare contested the early lead before seizing command and drawing off to earn her seventh career victory.
“She is just such a nice filly,” said Dylan Clarke, who also teamed up with Perez to win the first race with Massachusetts-bred Grady. “This weekend has been great. It is so rewarding to get to come back to Suffolk Downs with my family and have this kind of success. I have a great team.”
Jeb returned $4.80, 3.00 and 2.20. Spectacularsociano paid $3.60 and 2.60 while Brokers Prize paid $2.20.
Also on the card, jockey Edwin Gonzalez piloted home three winners on the 11-race program. Gonzalez kicked off his trifecta in the second race with Golden Story ($7) for trainer Michael Stidham. In the third race, he teamed up with Steve Klesaris for a victory with Escape to the Moon ($4.80). He and Stidham paired up again to win the night cap with Sophieshardtocatch ($3.60).
A day earlier, on a sunny, seasonable day, 7,552 fans were on hand to cheer on Donegal Racing’s Puca to victory in the $75,000 Steve Pini Memorial Stakes.
Trained by Hall of Fame conditioner Bill Mott, the five-year-old daughter of Big Brown settled off of the pace and launched a bold move as they turned for home. She drew off to win convincingly under Abel Lezcano and stopped the clock in 1:43 3/5 in the mile and seventy yard turf contest.
“I didn’t have a mount in this race and was happy to get a chance to ride such a nice filly,” said Lezcano. “I knew she had one move and when I asked her, I thought to myself that we had it. I want to thank Bill Mott and her owners, she is a classy horse.”
Puca notched her first black-type victory and returned $7.40, $4.40 and $3. Queen Caroline paid $5.20 and $3.20 while Princess of Gibralter (GB) returned $3.
Mott also sent out Mr. Meister ($6.80) to victory in the ninth race with Wilmer Garcia in the irons.
Also on the card, trainer Jay Bernardini and jockey Erik Barbaran teamed up for three winners on the eleven race card. The pair started the day in the opener with So Miesque ($5.40) and swept the early double with Dero D ($7.20). They closed out the card with a front-running victory with Boppin Anda Weavin ($7.40) in the final race of the day.
The live racing and food truck festival will continue Sept.30 and Oct. 1.