August 27, 2024 — by Chris Tully, for the Maine Sire Stakes
(Holli Niles photos)

WINDSOR, ME – Fred Ward’s Gowestyounggrace continued her dominance of the 3-year-old pacing filly division of the Maine Sire Stakes, easily taking her $19,000-plus split on Monday (August 26) at the Windsor Fair.

Unbeaten in her last six starts, Gowestyoungrace scored a wire-to-wire victory in her $19,321 event for the sophomore distaffs with regular driver Dave Ingraham at the controls.  Leaving from post four, the daughter of Western Maverick shot to the front in a 29.3 opening panel.  From there she was able to get a quick breather into a 1:01.1 half.

While second choice Who’s Perfect (Aaron Hall) was tight in the pocket, Heath Campbell pulled Pembroke Red first over heading into the 1:31.1 third stanza.  With that challenge diminishing Gowestyounggrace kicked into another gear and scooted home in 29 seconds to win in 2:00.1.

Owned and bred by Sharon and Fred Ward Jr., who also trains, it was the 12th lifetime win for their homebred stable star that now has $120,845 in career earnings.  She paid $2.80 to win.

Who’s Perfect finished second; Animore Sass (Andy Harrington) was third.

In the other $19,322 division Bob Marston’s Mrs Foxy Roxy picked up her second win in a row in the Maine Sire Stakes.

Scoring from post six in rein to Walter Case Jr. the daughter of Deuce Seelster shot out to the lead in a swift 29.3 first-quarter.  With the field stretched out Mrs Foxy Roxy set a softer 1:01.2 half with Emma Rozze (Heath Campbell) sitting comfortably in the garden spot.

Second choice Ghost Of You (Kevin Switzer Jr.) tipped off the cones at the 5/8’s marker and began his advance to the challenge the leader.  The field hit the three-quarters in 1:31.3 and with the outer flow now at her wheel Mrs Foxy Roxy increased her tempo.  With Emma Rozze locked in the box and Ghost Of You charging on the outside it was three horse battle down to the wire. 

Making every call a winning one Mrs Foxy Roxy held on to win by a half-length in 2:01.1.  Trained by Bob Marston for owners Bill McElvain Jr., Diane Dunn and Brad Veilleux, it was the filly’s seventh lifetime victory, pushing her career total to $76,827.  She was bred by Kristina and Gary Hall and piad $5.20 to win.

Emma Rozze finished second; Ghost Of You was third.

The Maine Sire Stakes continues at the Windsor Fair with the 2-year-old colt and gelding pacers on Tuesday (August 27), followed by the freshmen filly pacers on Friday (Aug. 30) and all four divisions of trotters on Saturday (Aug. 31).

For more information about the Maine Sire Stakes, follow our facebook page @MaineBreedersAssociation, or go to their website:  https://www.mainesirestakes.com