July 10, 2023 — by Chris Tully, for the Maine Sire Stakes (Thomas Smith photo).
BANGOR, ME – Two guys named ‘Mike’ departed Bangor as winners when their 3-year-old trotters scored in their respective divisions of the Maine Sire Stakes on Sunday’s (July 9) early card.
Trainer Mike Cushing’s filly She’salilbitmouthy grabbed her second victory of the stakes season, winning the $14,502 sophomore filly trot in a new lifetime best 2:02.4.
Driven by Aaron Hall, the daughter of Victor Blue Chip left from pylon position and never looked back as she cruised through opening fractions of 31.1 and 1:00.3. With a comfortable two-length lead on the trailing horses, Hall was content to hit the third panel in 1:31.1 before opening up by four lengths to sail home a winner for owner Mona Dodd. She’salilbitmouthy was bred in Maine by Stephen Hall.
It was the filly’s third seasonal start and second win where she lowered her mark by over three seconds, and now has 10 wins lifetime. Wild Ending (Ivan Davies) finished second; Another Adventure (Kevin Switzer Jr.-Marc Tardif) was third.
The $14,941 sophomore colt trot was up next, which was settled in the final strides by trainer Mike Graffam’s Stealin Money.
When the wings folded Outlawofthevalley (Switzer Jr.-Tardif) was the first to leave from post four, followed by Stealin Money (Nick Graffam-Mike Graffam) who got away second, with Pembroke Traveler (Heath Campbell-Valerie Grondin) settling into third.
Switzer Jr. gathered up Outlawofthevalley after a 29.1 opening panel and reduced the tempo into a 1:00.4 half. Last week’s victor Wabanaki (Ivan Davies) cruised solo in the outer flow throughout the opening panels but had a miscue following the 1:30.2 third quarter.
At the head of the stretch the leader Outlawofthevalley stepped off stride which allowed Stealin Money to inherit the lead for the Graffam clan, and score by a head over a fast-closing Pembroke Traveler in 2:02. Wabanaki held on to be third.
It was the first seasonal victory for Graffam’s homebred colt by Pembroke Slugger, who lowered his mark by nearly ten seconds in the process. Now co-owned by Mike Graffam with Jacquie Graffam and Joan Harmon, it was just the second lifetime victory for the up-and-comer.
The Maine-bred sidesteppers finish out the week, with the 3-year-old pacing colts invading Bangor on Wednesday (July 12) for two $15,142 divisions of seven horse fields. First post is early at 2 pm where Luke McGook, the point leader in the glamour boys division, seeks his fourth consecutive victory. Then, the 2- and 3-year-old pacing fillies are up next on Friday (July 14) at historic Bass Park.
The following day the 2-year-old pacing colts visit Cumberland on Saturday (July 15) for more Maine Sire Stakes events.
For more information about the Maine Standardbred Breeders Stakes, follow our facebook page @MaineBreedersAssociation, or go to their new website: https://www.mainesirestakes.com
