July 6, 2023 — by Chris Tully, for the Maine Sire Stakes (Thomas Smith photo)

BANGOR, ME – Trainer Mike Graffam’s Mrs Foxy Roxy strutted her stuff down the Bangor runway on Wednesday (July 5) to capture the season’s first 2-year-old Maine Sire Stakes, the $15,123 freshman filly pace.

Driven by Nick Graffam, the daughter of Deuce Seelster never had an anxious moment as the freshman distaff took immediate command from post three and led the field into a brisk 30.4 opening panel.

My Sweet Revenge (Walter Case Jr.-Marc Tardif) sat in the two-hole, with Who’s Perfect (Dave Ingraham-Valerie Grondin) the first to move to the outside into a 1:03.4 half-mile time.

Following Graffam’s perfectly rated middle half with Mrs Foxy Roxy, Heath Campbell moved Pembroke Red second over through a 1:35 third panel.  As the tempo increased the field stacked up in the leader’s wake as Graffam gained considerable separation around the final turn.

Mrs Foxy Roxy cruised to victory unabated in 2:04.3, a new lifetime best.  The four fillies in chase mode were stretched out in unison across the wire and racing for second.

Owned by William McElvain Jr, Diane Dunn and Bradford Veilleux, it was the black filly’s second score of the year, but first pari-mutuel victory.  She paid $5.40 to win by 3-1/2 lengths.  7-5 favorite My Sweet Revenge was second, Ghost Of You (Kevin Switzer Jr.-Marc Tardif) was third.

The male freshman sidesteppers invade Bangor on Friday (July 7) for a $14,598 Maine-sired 2-year-old colt and gelding pace.

For more information about the Maine Standardbred Breeders Stakes, follow our facebook page @MaineBreedersAssociation, or go to their new website:  https://www.mainesirestakes.com