August 19, 2023 — by Chris Tully, for the Maine Sire Stakes (Stephanie Gray photos)
SKOWHEGAN, ME – The Maine-bred freshmen pacers closed out the week of harness racing at the Skowhegan State Fair in grand fashion, with the distaff sidesteppers going two $14,000-plus divisions on Friday (Aug. 18) and their male counterparts mimicking that pattern on Saturday (Aug. 19).
Marc Tardif’s barn swept the 2-year-old colt and gelding paces on Saturday’s final day of the racing meet, sending Wes’s Challenge and Two Fold Cold to the winner’s circle.
In the first $14,487 Maine Sire Stakes non-betting event driver Walter Case Jr. sent Wes’s Challenge first over into a soft 1:02 half, challenging stable mate Thru The Fire (Andy Harrington). At the 1:32.4 third panel Gary Hall had gone three-deep with his Justcallmebuck and was able to poke a nose in front of the pacesetter.
But Case had other ideas and sent the son of Deuce Seelster on a beeline for the finish wire and prevailed in 2:05.1 by a half length. Owned by Leighton Property, ironically Wes’s Challenge was bred by Gary and Kristina Hall. It was the colt’s second sire stakes victory of the season.
Justcallmebuck held on for second, Thru The Fire was third.
In the second $14,486 colt pace Two Fold Cold driven by Kevin Switzer Jr. shot out for an early lead and never looked back, grabbing his second win in a row in 2:02.4 while equaling his lifetime mark. Owned and trained by Marc Tardif, he was also bred by Gary and Kristina Hall.
Hesjustadelight finished second (Ron Cushing-Heidi Gibbs); Stretch It Donn was third (Case Jr.-Tardif).
The fillies enjoyed two divisions on Friday (Aug. 18) with Who’s Perfect remaining perfect in her last two outings. In the $14,486 Maine Sire Stake for 2-year-old pacing fillies she was driven by Heath Campbell for trainer Valerie Grondin. The daughter of Western Maverick traded places with initial pacesetter Mrs Foxy Roxy (Nick Graffam-Mike Graffam) and took over at the half and coasted home in 2:01.3, which was a new lifetime best.
Owned and bred by Lynn-Marie Plouffe with co-owners Dick and Patty McKeen, she has yet to be worse than second in her last five starts.
Mrs Foxy Roxy was second; My Sweet Revenge (Case Jr.-Tardif) finished third.
The final $14,487 division was Friday’s opener on the regular card, and witnessed Gowestyounggrace score from off the pace for driver Dave Ingraham and owner-trainer-breeder Fred Ward Jr. with Sharon Ward.
Scoring by two lengths in 2:02, it was a new lifetime record for the daughter of Western Maverick who has also copped her last two starts. She paid $6.20 to win. Wagering favorite Ghost Of You (Switzer Jr.-Tardif) finished second; Animore Sass (Harrington-Tardif) was third.
Maine Sire Stakes racing resumes at the Windsor Fair on Sunday (Aug. 27).
For more information about the Maine Sire Stakes, follow their Facebook page @MaineBreedersAssociation, or go to their website: https://www.mainesirestakes.com
