August 15, 2024 — by Chris Tully, for the Maine Sire Stakes
(Holli Niles photos)
SKOWHEGAN, ME – The Downeast faithful invaded the Skowhegan State Fair on Tuesday (Aug. 13) and Wednesday (Aug. 14) with four $19,000-plus divisions of 3-year-old pacers going postward under the lights in the Maine Sire Stakes.
Seeking and capturing her fifth consecutive stakes victory on Wednesday was Fred Ward Jr.’s Gowestyounggrace, who hasn’t seen another horse’s heels since the month of June.
Regular driver Dave Ingraham wasted no time getting to the top in their $19,922 division for sophomore distaffs. Setting comfortable fractions of 30.2, 101.1 and 1:32, the handy daughter of Western Maverick was seemingly on autopilot when she threw in a 28 final quarter to cruise home unabated in two-minutes flat.
Also bred and owned by Fred Ward Jr. and his wife Sharon, it was the sixth win of the season and 11th overall for the $111,185 lifetime earner. She paid $2.20 to win.
Pembroke Red (Heath Campbell) finished second; My Sweet Revenge (Kevin Switzer Jr.) was third.
In Wednesday’s second $19,696 3-year-old pacing filly division, 7-1 longshot Mrs Foxy Roxy went a big mile and scored a big upset over 1-5 favorite Who’s Perfect.
Walter Case Jr. left swiftly and set a demanding 28.3 opening panel, forcing Who’s Perfect (Heath Campbell) to expend considerable energy to take command past that swift first quarter. However, Case and Mrs Foxy Roxy tipped right back out past the 58.4 half and continued applying constant pressure to the favorite.
Through the 1:28.3 third panel track announcer Mike Sweeney proclaimed that the pair were ‘whiskers apart and matching strides.’ Down the lane Mrs Foxy Roxy continued to advance and prevailed by a measured length over Who’s Perfect in 1:58.1.
Trained by Bob Marston for owners Bill McElvain Jr., Diane Dunn and Brad Veilleux, the daughter of Deuce Seelster paid $16.00 to win her second Maine Sire Stake of the year. She was bred by Kristina and Gary Hall.
Animore Sass (Andy Harrington) finished third.
On Tuesday (Aug. 13) both Maine Sire Stakes divisions for 3-year-old pacing colts and geldings were captured by trainer Marc Tardif.
The $19,691 early, non-wagering event was a wire to wire tour for Two Fold Cold who grabbed his sixth win in a row. Driven by Kevin Switzer Jr. and tripping the ‘Skow-Town’ timer in 1:57, the son of Deuce Seelster won easily by 2-1/2 lengths for owner-trainer Marc Tardif. He was bred by Gary and Kristina Hall and has amassed $87,496 in lifetime earnings and remains undefeated this season.
Hesjustadelight (Aaron Hall) finished second; Thru The Fire (Case) was third.
In the second $19,916 sophomore pacing colt split Wes’s Challenge was up to the task as he rolled through the fractions effortlessly for driver Walter Case Jr. and took his division in 1:59.3.
Trained by Marc Tardif for owner Leighton Property and breeders Gary and Kristina Hall, the son of Deuce Seelster has won his last two out of three starts. He paid $4.20 to win.
Justcallmebuck (Heath Campbell) finished second; Arts Flight (Harrington) was third.
As of Tuesday (Aug. 13) a $3,500 base purse increase was authorized for all divisions of the Maine Sire Stakes. This raised each event’s purse structure to $18,500, plus starting fees.
The Maine Sire Stakes continues into the weekend at the Skowhegan State Fair with the 2-year-old pacing fillies on Friday (Aug. 16) and all four divisions of 2- and 3-year-old trotters on Saturday (Aug. 17).
For more information about the Maine Sire Stakes, follow our facebook page @MaineBreedersAssociation, or go to their website: https://www.mainesirestakes.com
