August 18, 2024 — by Chris Tully, for the Maine Sire Stakes
(Holli Niles photos)

SKOWHEGAN, ME – The Maine Sire Stakes closed out the week of racing at the historic Skowhegan State Fair on Saturday (Aug. 18) with four $19,000-plus divisions of 2- and 3-year-old trotters rolling down the lively midway before and during the afternoon pari-mutuel card. 

Freshmen trotter Whatawonder extended his unbeaten streak and increased his career win total to six as the gelding continued to dominate his division, having never laid eyes on the back of a helmet.

Driven by Ken Watson for trainer Lisa Watson, the son of Whataworkout stepped out to the front where he likes to be, and made every call a winning one.  Dashing away from the field to win by 9-1/2 lengths in 2:06.2, the time was a new lifetime best for the talented trotter.

Owned and bred by Barbara Lawson, Whatawonder made quick work of the $19,528 Maine-bred early non-wagering event for 2-year-old trotting colts and geldings.

Just Foolin (Heath Campbell) finished second; Iron Mike (Mark Athearn) was third.

In the $19,483 sophomore male trotters split, Chipper Dale also continued his winning ways, picking up his fourth win in a row.

Steered by regular pilot Drew Campbell, the son of Shake It Off Lindy took a seat behind his brother Heath Campbell who was driving Pembroke Will.  Both trotters hail from the Valerie Grondin stable and were heads apart entering the home stretch where Chipper Dale tipped to the outside and posted a 29.1 last quarter to prevail by 2-1/2 lengths in 2:02.4.

Owned and bred by Lynn-Marie Plouffe, it was Chipper Dale’s 11th lifetime victory which pushed his lifetime earnings to $123,163.

Pembroke Will finished second; Carrabassett (Mark Athearn) was third.

The 3-year-old trotting fillies completed the early card with $19,708 up for grabs.

Current divisional point leader Pembroke Breeze (Heath Campbell) was the first to leave and got stretched out heading into the opening panel.  However, while setting the pace through the third quarter she jumped off stride which allowed My Saving Grace to inherit the lead and coast home an easy winner in 2:07.1.

Guided to a 3-1/2 length victory by Mark Athearn for trainer Gretchen Athearn and owner Margaret Thyng, the daughter of Shake It Off Lindy picked up her second win of the season after a string of five third-place finishes.  She was bred in Maine by Leighton Property and is second in her divisional point standings.

Bernie’s Legacy (Dave Ingraham) finished second; Pembroke Breeze hung on for third.

The final $19,841 Maine Sire Stakes for 2-year-old trotting fillies was on the betting card and saw Barbella break her maiden and trot home a long-shot winner in 2:05.4.

With five of the seven entrants making breaks before, or after, the wings folded, the two fillies left trotting were Barbella and Bruce Ranger who grabbed the lead, and Little Shot and Ivan Davies who tracked her cover closely. 

With the rest of the field scattered Ranger set perfectly rated fractions and sailed home a 2-length winner at 12-1.

Trained by Ken Anderson for owner Bob Zakian, the daughter of Whataworkout was bred by the late Mike Andrew.  She paid $26.40 to win.

Little Shot finished second; Blizzard’s Fury (Kevin Switzer Jr.) was third.

On Friday (Aug. 16) another filly got a new time badge in the lone $19,496 division of the Maine Sire Stakes for 2-year-old pacing fillies.

Whisper Of Luck had ample luck and sufficient skill to pull off a mild upset in her sixth career attempt.

Driven by Kevin Switzer Jr. the daughter of Artistic Fella got shuffled to the back of the bus at the start with 4-5 favorite Nick Graffam and Chasing Dudes setting the fractions in the freshmen filly fracas.  With Leanne Marie (Mike Cushing) first up and Glorilla (Ron Cushing) second over heading to the 1:02 half, Whisper Of Luck seemingly had nowhere to go.

However, as Glorilla gapped her cover around the 5/8’s turn, Switzer tipped his filly out to chase the live cover in a 1:31.4 half.  Rolling three-wide around the final turn, the 4-1 third choice Whisper Of Luck had the speed and the momentum to track down the leaders and score by three parts of a length in 2:02.3.

Owned, bred and trained by Marc Tardif, it was the filly’s first lifetime win.

Glorilla finished a fast closing second; Chasing Dudes hung on to be third.

The Maine Sire Stakes takes a brief hiatus and returns for a long stand at the Windsor Fair beginning Sunday (Aug. 25) with the 3-year-old male pacers, followed on Monday (Aug. 26) by their sophomore filly counterparts.  The 2-year-old colt pacers race on Tuesday (Aug. 27).

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