The second Grand Circuit event at Plainridge Park this year is the $100,000 Bunker Hill Trot for three-year-olds in 2023 and it will be held on Monday, May 15. Inter Mischief is the early choice in the race and he is no stranger to racing in the Commonwealth.
Massachusetts-bred Inter Mischief (International Moni-Blinded By Lindy) is the record-setting Massachusetts Sire Stakes (MASS) two-year-old trotting colt champion who comes into this race as the richest freshman from last year that is starting in this seven-horse field.
After finishing second in the $50,000 Pennsylvania Sire Stakes (PASS) consolation at Harrah’s Philadelphia in September, Inter Mischief shipped to Plainridge and won two out of the three preliminary legs of the MASS. His second win was timed in 1:55.4 and that set the stakes and track record for a two-year-old trotting colt and was also a lifetime mark for himself. In the $125,000 final (pictured above), Inter Mischief was a convincing winner who pulled away to a 2-1/2-length win over an off track. Overall, his seven starts last year earned him $151,895 in purses.
Inter Mischief won his sophomore debut in an overnight at Harrah’s Philly and lowered his lifetime mark to 1:54.1 in the process. He comes into this race razor sharp and is intimately familiar with the surface at Plainridge. Kevin Switzer Jr., who drove Inter Mischief to all of his wins last year, will be back in the bike for this event leaving from post four for trainer Jamie Sullivan.
Khaosan Road (International Moni-Jewels In The Sand) will also be highly regarded in this stakes. After being very lightly raced at two, Khaosan Road made his first start this year in the $137,775 Dexter Cup at Freehold Raceway and was a gate-to-wire winner in a personal best time of 1:57.4. That was his second consecutive win going back to last year as he won his final outing of 2022. With his best efforts also his most recent performances, Khaosan Road will certainly get support at the windows. Trainer Ake Svanstedt has Scott Zeron in the bike and they will start from post five.
Svanstedt will be looking to remain perfect in the Bunker Hill Trot after he trained last year's winner Jonas KS, who set the stakes and track record for three-year-old trotting colts with a dominating 1:53 romp for driver Kevin Switzer Jr.
Herodotus (Bar Hopping-Regal Woman) was heavily staked at two, having competed in the PASS, Peter Haughton Memorial and the International Stallion Stakes. But he only grabbed minor spoils there while his two wins came in overnight events. This year, he started with two consecutive overnight wins at the Meadowlands and Pocono Downs while taking a new lifetime mark of 1:53.3. Herodotus looks at the top of his game and starts from post seven for his Hall of Fame team of driver David Miller and trainer Ron Burke.
Spitfire Oversees (International Moni-Legal Lady) has a similar resume to Herodotus: two overnight wins at two amid a solid stakes schedule that concluded with a start in the $810,000 Breeders Crown where he was beaten only five lengths. This year, he makes his seasonal debut here off one qualifier at Woodbine Mohawk Park, where he won by a length in 1:55.3. Spitfire Oversees drew post six and Anthony MacDonald will steer for local leading trainer Melissa Beckwith.
From the three inside posts, the Chris Beaver-trained Bright Expectation (Aaron Merriman) and John Butenschoen stablemates Buddy Earl (Bruce Ranger) and Kobe B (Jay Randall) complete the field.
The $100,000 Bunker Hill Trot will go as the seventh of the 11-race program with post time for that event set for 6 p.m. Post time for the first race at Plainridge on Monday is 4 p.m.
(With files from Standardbred Owners of Massachusetts)