September 16, 2024 — by Chris Tully, for the Maine Sire Stakes (Joe Shaw photo)

BANGOR, ME – When the 183rd annual Farmington Fair welcomes the Maine Sire Stakes for a full week of harness racing on Monday (September 16), the top 3-year-old pacing filly in the state, Gowestyounggrace, will be looking for her eighth consecutive victory.

Owner-trainer-breeder Fred Ward Jr., along with his with his wife Sharon, have put their heart and soul into Gowestyounggrace, a daughter of Western Maverick from their good mare Gracie Gracie.

Having amassed $73,912 in earnings this season, the filly has eight wins in 12 starts and a current win streak of seven.  She drew pylon position in the second race on Monday (Sept. 16) at Farmington.  Regular pilot Dave Ingraham remains in the sulky.

Her primary threat comes from Mrs Foxy Roxy (Walter Case Jr.) who has a pair of wins in her last three starts.

The second division also features a rail sitter, Who’s Perfect, who gets Aaron Hall in the bike for trainer Valerie Grondin.  Heath Campbell has returned from his benchmark-breaking trip to Truro Raceway in Nova Scotia where the veteran reinsman traveled back to his Maritime Canadian homeland to capture win number 5,700.  He will drive Pembroke Red from post five.

Both divisions of the Maine Sire Stakes for 3-year-old pacing fillies carry a purse of $19,000-plus.

Situated in Franklin County (Maine), Farmington has a whopping 47 properties or districts listed on the National Registry of Historic Places.

Also historic in its own right, 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 continues at the Farmington Fair with harness racing Tuesday (Sept. 17) 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