September 1, 2023 — by Chris Tully, for the Maine Sire Stakes (Stephanie Gray photos)

WINDSOR, ME – The freshmen filly pacers kicked off a long, four-day holiday weekend at historic Windsor Fair on Friday (Sept. 1) with two $14,000-plus divisions of the Maine Sire Stakes.

Both winners extended their respective winning streaks to three, as the pair of paces went before the regular card in front of a lively crowd on a perfect day for Pine Tree State harness racing.

The swiftest of the $14,487 splits went to Gowestyounggrace, who used a three-eighths pole move to wear down the leader and take home her third consecutive stakes victory.

Scoring from post four, driver Dave Ingraham was content to settle into fourth position heading into the first turn while Nick Graffam pushed Mrs Foxy Roxy to the front from post five.

Setting a swift 29.2 opening panel, Graffam took a breather going to the half in 1:00.2 (31) giving Ingraham the opportunity to move his filly first over as the field passed the stands for the first time.

Graffam picked up the pace to try and fend off the challenger but the sassy daughter of Western Maverick kept moving forward and had a three-quarter length lead at the 1:29.2 (29) third panel.

As the field turned for home Ingraham kept Gowestyounggrace going strong and the pair scooted home to win by 1-3/4 lengths in a lifetime best 1:59.3.

Trained and co-owned by Fred Ward Jr. with Sharon Ward, it was the third lifetime victory for the lightly raced distaff.  The Wards also bred the filly.

Mrs Foxy Roxy finished second; Ghost Of You (Kevin Switzer Jr.-Marc Tardif) was third.

The other division witnessed Who’s Perfect stay perfect in her third consecutive outing, scoring in 2:01.3 for driver Heath Campbell and trainer Valerie Grondin.

It was a wire-to-wire walk in the park for the consistent daughter of Western Maverick, who now has four stakes victories this season, with earnings of $37,626.  She was bred in Maine by Lynn-Marie Plouffe, who now co-owns with Dick and Patty McKeen.

Drawing off by three lengths at the wire, it was the 28.4 final quarter that distinguished her from the rest of the fillies.  Animore Sass (Andy Harrington-Marc Tardif) finished second; Summertime (Steve Wilson) was third.

Racing continues with Maine’s 2-year-old colts and gelding on Saturday (Sept. 2).  All the Maine-bred trotters return on Sunday (Sept. 3) with the sophomore filly pacers closing out the meet on Labor Day Monday (Sept. 4). For more information about the Maine Sire Stakes, follow their Facebook page @MaineBreedersAssociation