September 5, 2023 — by Chris Tully, for the Maine Sire Stakes (Stephanie Gray photos)

WINDSOR, ME – Under sunny skies and high temperatures, Maine’s sophomore pacing fillies scored some fast miles on Monday’s (Sept. 4) final day of racing at Windsor Fair. 

Held prior to the regular card the pair of $14,000-plus divisions witnessed equal winning times for the pair of talented distaffs, both of whom took the most direct route to the winners circle.

In the first match-up, Pickmepickme was all business and grabbed the $14,459 split in decisive fashion.  Scoring from post three, driver Andy Harrington had to contend with the hard-charging Justcallmemimi (Walter Case Jr.-Mike Graffam) to overtake the lead past the :29 opening panel.

With the rest of the field now comfortably at bay, Harrington rolled the Western Maverick filly through evenly-rated fractions of 58.1 and 1:27.3 while gaining separation with every stride.  As the finish line drew closer, the contenders slipped away from Pickmepickme who triumphed in 1:57.2 by three open lengths.

Justcallmemimi finished second; Bailey’s Rock Star (McGuire Sowers-Sherry Cushing) was third.

Owned, trained and bred by Marc Tardif, it was Pickmepickme’s twelfth lifetime victory, which boosted her career bankroll to $132,378.

The second $14,684 division for 3-year-old pacing fillies was captured by South St Dottie in a wire-to-wire thriller.

Driver Aaron Hall had the daughter of Western Maverick out and rolling from her pylon starting position, and had 2-1/4 lengths on the field at the :28 first quarter.  While settling into a softer :58 half, the aggressor Katelyn’s Angel (Kevin Switzer Jr.-Tardif), who came into the day off of a five-race win streak, was ranging up on the outside to make a bid for the top.  At the 1:27.4 third panel the pair were matching strides while side by side.

But, the final turn helped South St Dottie keep Katelyn’s Angel a few steps back, which was just enough to hold off any late brushes to win by a length in 1:57.2.

La Mambacita (Scott McKenzie-Valerie Grondin) finished third.

Owned and bred by Jan Donoway, the time was a new lifetime best for South St Dottie who grabbed her seventh stakes win of the season, and pushed her lifetime earnings to $101,999.  She is trained by Mike Graffam.

The Maine Sire Stakes returns to Bangor on Wednesday (Sept. 6) with two $14,000-plus divisions for 3-year-old pacing colts and geldings.  Looking ahead, Bangor hosts the freshmen pacing fillies on Sunday (Sept. 16) before transitioning over to the Farmington Fair the week of Sept. 17. For more information about the Maine Sire Stakes, follow their Facebook page @MaineBreedersAssociation