September 17, 2024 — by Chris Tully, for the Maine Sire Stakes
(Holli Niles photos)
FARMINGTON, ME – Maine’s top 3-year-old pacing filly, Gowestyounggrace, picked up her eighth consecutive victory on Monday (September 16) at Farmington when the 183rd annual Farmington Fair welcomed the Maine Sire Stakes for a full week of harness racing.
Leaving from pylon position, the only question that remained after the start was ‘how fast’ and by ‘how many’ the daughter of Western Maverick-Gracie Gracie would celebrate her triumph.
Regular pilot Dave Ingraham set comfortable first half fractions of 29.1 and 59 while well in command of the field of distaffs. Past the 1:28.2 third panel it was clearly a race for second as the outer flow was stacked up behind Animore Sass (Andy Harrington) and a three deep My Sweet Revenge (Kevin Switzer Jr.).
Down the stretch Ingraham let out a notch and let the filly pace a 28.4 final quarter to score by 3 lengths in 1:57.1, which was a new lifetime mark and her 14th lifetime win.
Owner-trainer-breeder Fred Ward Jr., along with his wife Sharon, have developed the leading point earner in their division, with her career bankroll now at $140,766. She paid just $2.20 as the heavy favorite.
My Sweet Revenge finished second; Emma Rozze (Heath Campbell) was third.
The second division also featured a rail sitter, Who’s Perfect, who also led every step of the way for Aaron Hall in the bike for trainer Valerie Grondin.
Winning in 1:59.4 by 2 lengths, it was that daughter of Western Maverick’s fourth seasonal victory. She is owned and was bred in Maine by Lynn-Marie Plouffe, and carries $127,423 on her card. Also the heavy favorite, she paid $2.20 to win.
Ghost Of You (Switzer) finished second; Summertime (Harrington) was third.
Both divisions of the Maine Sire Stakes for 3-year-old pacing fillies carried a purse of $19,000-plus.
The Maine Sire Stakes program is celebrating it’s 50th year of competition, highlighting the Standardbred colts and fillies that have been bred, foaled and raised to race. Not only has the series attracted thousands of fans over the years, but has been a centerpiece of the pari-mutuel county fair racing that has thrived in the New England region. The Maine Sire Stakes program is vital to the economic development and farmland preservation of the area, having resulted in a total capital investment in breeding stock, equipment, buildings, etc. of over $9 million over a five year period.
The Maine Sire Stakes resumes at the Farmington Fair with harness racing Tuesday (Sept. 17) with the 2-year-old pacing fillies, and continues through Friday (Sept. 20).
Looking ahead, four divisions of the Freshmen Finals will be held at the Cumberland Fair on Saturday (Sept. 28).
For more information about the Maine Sire Stakes, follow our Facebook page @MaineBreedersAssociation, or go to their website: https://www.mainesirestakes.com
