September 12, 2024 — by Chris Tully, for the Maine Sire Stakes
(Holli Niles photos)

BANGOR, ME – A pair of $19,000-plus divisions of the Maine Sire Stakes for 2-year-old pacing colts and geldings toured the historic Bass Park oval at Bangor Raceway on Wednesday (September 11) with the unbeaten Massive Speed remaining at the top of his class.

At the start, Walter Case Jr. driving the 1-9 favorite Massive Speed let 5-1 second choice Keenan Star (Heath Campbell) assume the point.  That leader’s position was short-lived, however, as Case was right out and re-taking command before the snappy 28.4 first quarter.

Just past the softer 59.3 half and into the third turn Dave Ingraham pulled Gracies Tough Guy first over and challenged for the lead while the field hit the third panel in 1:29.1.

Round the turn Ingraham continued to apply pressure with the 13-1 longshot Gracies Tough Guy and was within a length of the unblemished leader.  Through the stretch Case asked his seasonally perfect colt for more, to which he responded with a 29 second final quarter.  Prevailing by a measured length for the $19,662 purse, they stopped the timer in 1:58.1, which was just a tick off the seasonal mark the son of Dude’s The Man set in his triumph last week.

Trained by Marc Tardif for owner Leighton Property, it was the talented colt’s eighth consecutive win, which has extended his unbeaten streak.  Massive Spped was bred in Maine by Laurie Harding and paid just $2.20 to win and increased his career bankroll to $61,827.

Keenan Star finished third.

In the second $19,661 division, William Child’s Race Me Celtic strolled to an easy wire-to-wire victory in 1:58.4, which broke his maiden and provided the gelding with a new time badge.

Driven by Drew Campbell, the son of Western Maverick maintained a healthy advantage over the various comers and goers of the race, but drew off down the stretch to score by 6-1/4 lengths.

Owned, bred and trained by William Childs, the Race Me Celtic paid $4.00 to win and now has $19,688 earned in just five lifetime starts.

Dawn Two Dark (Andy Harrington) finished second; Cheatin Fate (Kevin Switzer Jr.) was third.

The Maine Sire Stakes transitions over to the Farmington Fair for harness racing Monday (Sept. 16) through Friday (Sept. 20) with the all of the remaining divisions of 2- and 3-year-old Maine-bred events. 

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

September 9, 2024 — by Chris Tully, for the Maine Sire Stakes
(Holli Niles photo)

BANGOR, ME – The lone $19,671 division of the Maine Sire Stakes for 2-year-old pacing fillies went postward at Bangor Raceway on Sunday (September 8) with the top point earner adding to her lead.

When the wings folded driver Kevin Switzer Jr. sent the 1-5 favorite Whisper Of Luck right out to the lead, with 5-2 second choice Chasing Dudes (Nick Graffam) protecting position.  Mike Cushing swung Leanne Marie swiftly from her outermost post six and ducked into the three-hole as the field moved down the backstretch toward the 30.4 opening quarter.

While the first half witnessed no movement heading into the softer 1:03.3 second stanza, Leanne Marie and Audry (Steve Wilson) charged down the backstretch to challenge the leaders on the outside.

By the time the field hit the 1:34.1 third panel, Leanne Marie was just a head behind the pacesetting favorite Whisper Of Luck.  Around the turn the first-over aggressor had a half-length advantage over the leader, with the pocket-sitting Chasing Dudes poised to pounce three-wide on the outside.

Three horses battled down the center of the racetrack, with the slingshot momentum of Chasing Dudes seizing the day with a surging 29.1 final quarter.  Prevailing by three parts of a length, the Mike Graffam-trained daughter of Dude’s The Man tripped the timer in 2:03.3. 

Owned and bred by Bob Marston, it was the filly’s third win of the season, increasing her career earnings to $38,116.  She paid $7.20 to win.

Leanne Marie finished second; Whisper Of Luck was third.

The Maine Sire Stakes returns to Bangor on Wednesday (Sept. 11) for the 2-year-old male pacers.  The following week the series transitions over to the Farmington Fair for harness racing Monday (Sept. 16) through Friday (Sept. 20) with the all of the remaining divisions of 2- and 3-year-old Maine-bred events. 

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

September 8, 2024 — by Chris Tully, for the Maine Sire Stakes
(Holli Niles photos)

BANGOR, ME – A quartet of $19,000-plus divisions of the Maine Sire Stakes for 2- and 3-year-old trotters invaded Bangor Raceway at Historic Bass Park on Saturday (September 7) where streaking freshman high-stepper Whatawonder took his eighth consecutive victory.

While his opponents are getting closer and closer to the talented son of Whataworkout, the added competition didn’t stop the Lisa Watson-trained gelding from copping another wire-to-wire score in his $19,528 2-year-old male trot.

Leaving from pylon position, regular pilot Ken Watson sent Whatawonder right to the top where he raced through unhurried fractions of 32.2 and 1:04.3 through the opening half.  Stepping on the accelerator into a 1:34.2 (29.4) third panel, the pacesetter had Liberty’s Wildcard (Kevin Switzer Jr.) right on his helmet and stable mate Katahdin Victor (Wally Watson) first over and challenging for the lead.

At the head of the stretch the trotting wonder kicked into high gear and hurried home in 29.1 while matching strides with Liberty’s Wildcard to prevail by a scant three parts of a length.  Tripping the timer in 2:03.3, it was a new lifetime mark for the Barbara Lawson owned and bred Whatawonder.

Stable mate Katahdin Victor finished third in the non-wagering event.

In the $19,543 early 3-year-old filly trot My Saving Grace nabbed her third win in a row, cruising home by nine lengths in 2:04.2, a new lifetime mark.

Driven by Mark Athearn for trainer Gretchen Athearn, the daughter of Shake It Off Lindy is owned by Margaret Thyng.  She was bred in Maine by Leighton Property.

Twisted Venture (Mike Cushing) finished second; Bernie’s Legacy (Dave Ingraham) was third.

Sophomore trotting gelding Chipper Dale returned to his winning ways as he grabbed his $19,172 division, dropping a full two seconds off of his time badge in the process.

Driven by Drew Campbell for trainer Valerie Grondin, the son of Shake It Off Lindy smoked the field past the half and rolled down to the wire in 2:00.1 in front by 9-1/2 lengths.  Chipper Dale is owned and was bred by Lynn-Marie Plouffe, and picked up his sixth seasonal victory and a new lifetime mark.

Stable mate Pembroke Will (Heath Campbell) finished second; Carrabassett (Mark Athearn) was third.

In the only event on the pari-mutuel card, eight 2-year-old trotting fillies vied for $20,016 in purse money.  Third choice Barbella (Bruce Ranger) was sent out for the early lead into a snappy 30.1 opening panel, with 6-1 longshot Little Shot (Ivan Davies) protecting his two-hole position into the first turn.  With the rest of the field scattered by breakers those two continued on past a swift 1:00.2 half and a 1:31.1 third panel.

With Barbella doing all of the heavy lifting, Little Shot pushed past the pacesetter in the homestretch to prevail by a length in 2:03.

A maiden no more, Little Shot is co-owned (with Shirley Hutchins), trained and was driven by Ivan Davies.  Bred by Dr. Douglass Hutchins and Paul Kinnear, the daughter of Noble Venture made her seventh career start a memorable one, paying $15.40 to win.

Favorite Blizzard’s Fury (Switzer) finished third.

The Maine Sire Stakes continues Sunday (September 8) with 2-year-old filly pacers and then returns to Bangor on Wednesday (Sept. 11) for the 2-year-old male pacers.  The following week the series transitions over to the Farmington Fair for harness racing Monday (Sept. 16) through Friday (Sept. 20) with the all of the remaining divisions of 2- and 3-year-old Maine-bred events. 

Four divisions of the Freshmen Finals will be held at Cumberland 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

2-year-old Maine Sire Stakes FINALS – Sat., September 28 at First Tracks Cumberland

September 5, 2024 — by Chris Tully, for the Maine Sire Stakes
(Holli Niles photos)

BANGOR, ME – Freshmen male pacers returned to Bangor Raceway on Wednesday (September 4) for a pair of $19,000-plus divisions of the Maine Sire Stakes, with the undefeated Massive Speed continuing to dominate the division.

Regular pilot Walter Case Jr. sent Massive Speed, the 1-9 favorite, directly to the front from post two in the $19,662 first split, with second choice Keenan’s Star (Heath Campbell) sticking closely in the pocket.  With the field in two distinct segments separated by 14 lengths, the people’s choice set a snappy 28.4 opening panel.  This was followed by a much more relaxed 1:00.1 half, with little movement from the ‘three-and-three’ followers.

While Case quickened the tempo with Massive Speed into a 1:29.3 third stanza, the pocket-sitting Keenan’s Star was poised to challenge and tipped out around the final turn to make the otherwise uneventful circuit into a horse race.  

With the would-be assault underway, Case chirped to his charge and gave the swift son of Dude’s The Man a hand drive down to the wire to win by 1-1/4 lengths in 1:58, a new lifetime best.

Trained by Marc Tardif for owner Leighton Property, it was the seventh consecutive victory for the here-to-fore unbeaten colt.  His lifetime earnings are now $51,996, and he paid $2.20 to win.  He was bred in Maine by Laurie Harding.

Keenan’s Star finished second; stable mate Cheatin Fate (Andy Harrington) was third.

In the second $19,661 division Heath Campbell sent 10-1 longshot This Dude’s Perfect right to the top with Gracies Tough Guy (Dave Ingraham) yielding to that early speed.  Before the field hit the 29.1 quarter-mile mark 1-2 favorite Dawn Two Dark (Andy Harrington) was out and rolling first over from the back of the pack, and assumed the point at the 3/8’s pole.

As the new leader set his sights on the 59 second half, the challengers were poised to pounce from off the pace.  The first to charge toward the front was Gracies Tough Guy, with Race Me Celtic (Drew Campbell) second over and giving chase.

With the pocket sitting This Dude’s Perfect gapping his cover, Gracies Tough Guy rolled up to engage the pacesetter through a 1:28.2 third panel, with Race Me Celtic surging three wide around the final turn.  Gracies Tough Guy maintained his momentum into the home stretch and gained an advantage over Dawn Two Dark and prevailed down to the wire in 1:58.2.

Trained by Fred Ward Jr. who also owns and bred with his wife Sharon Ward, the son of Western Maverick took a lifetime mark while scoring impressively by 1-1/4 lengths over a fast closing Race Me Celtic.  Gracies Tough Guy is the 2-year-old full brother to sophomore pacing filly standout Gowestyounggrace, and now has his first lifetime victory from seven career starts, paying $9.20 for the score.

Dawn To Dark hung on for third.

The Maine Sire Stakes continues at Bangor on Saturday (Sept. 7) for all four divisions of 

trotters and back on Sunday (Sept. 8) with the 2-year-old filly pacers.

For more information about the Maine Sire Stakes, follow our facebook page 

@MaineBreedersAssociation, or go to their website: 

https://www.mainesirestakes.com

September 4, 2024 – from Olive Branch Farm

WINGATE, N.C. — Former Maine pacing sire Sweet Dragon, 33, was laid to rest on Monday (Sept. 2) from the infirmities of old age at Olive Branch Farm in North Carolina.

A former leading Maine pacing sire Sweet Dragon p,2,1:54.4 ($232,392) was a multiple sub-1:53 sire and sired the winners of over $4.69 million in the Pine Tree State.

A half-brother to Hall of Fame broodmare Sweet Future, he was a son of Breeders Crown winner Dragon’s Lair, and was the first foal from the Nero mare Sweet Dahrlin p,3,1:55.4 ($169,163).

Olive Branch Farm owner-operator Chris Coyle stated, “He was special horse that I helped raise during my years at Walnridge Farm in New Jersey.  I got to watch him finish 2nd in the 1993 Woodrow Wilson with Jim Doherty driving for trainer Polie Mallar and owner Dr. Binette. He went on to be a leading Maine pacing sire for many years under the management of Lynn-Marie Plouffe at her Dupuis Farm in Saco.”

In 2012 he was adopted by Chris Coyle, his breeder Seth Rosenfeld, and trainer Polie Mallar and got to live a long, happy life at Olive Branch as a baby sitter to many yearling colts. 

Coyle added, “We adopted him from the Standardbred Retirement Foundation of NJ, an organization that does a wonderful job placing horses in good homes lead by Judy Bokman.”

September 3, 2024 — by Chris Tully, for the Maine Sire Stakes
(Holli Niles photos)

WINDSOR, ME – Two $19,000-plus divisions of the Maine Sire Stakes for 3-year-old filly pacers closed out the harness racing at Windsor Fair on Labor Day Monday (September 2) where top filly Gowestyounggrace picked up her seventh straight victory.

Scoring from post two driver Dave Ingraham never had an anxious moment with the talented daughter of Western Maverick.  The pair set comfortable fractions of 29.4 and 1:00.3 while pacing effortlessly to the opening half through an eerily unique silence. 

The silence of the crowd and the announcer was not due to any technical malfunction, but as a tribute to the late Bill Ellis, the former track announcer for many of the Maine Fairs and president of the New England Chapter of the U.S. Harness Writers.  Mike Cushing proclaimed after the ‘silent half’ that Bill Ellis was perhaps “calling that race from up above.”

With Gowestyounggrace calling all the shots, and Mike Cushing back calling all the action, the rest of the field was feverishly trying to catch the 1-5 pacesetter.  Pocket-sitting Emma Rozze (Heath Campbell) was well-positioned at the 1:30.2 third panel with Ghost Of You (Kevin Switzer Jr.) moving first over.

As the field turned for home the top filly was asked for a little more and responded with a 28.3 final quarter to win by 2-1/2 lengths in 1:59.  Trained by Fred Ward Jr. who co-owns and bred with his wife Sharon Ward, it was the eighth seasonal victory and 13^th overall for the career winner of $130,805.  She paid $2.40 to win the first division with a purse of $19,921.

Emma Rozze finished second; Who’s Perfect (Aaron Hall) was third.

The second $19,922 division witnessed My Sweet Revenge exacting retribution against her colleagues as she took matters into her own hands and scored from off the pace.

When the gate sprung Walter Case Jr. sent 4-5 favorite Mrs Foxy Roxy right to the top from post two and set a 29.4 first quarter, with Pembroke Red (Heath Campbell) giving chase in the pocket.  The field was in single file position as they passed the stands the first time and clocked 1:00.4 to the half. 

With Case looking for his third win in a row with the pacesetting bettor’s choice, he increased the tempo to a 1:30.1 with My Sweet Revenge now first over and challenging with stable mate Animore Sass (Andy Harrington) right behind them second up.

Round the turn they paced with My Sweet Revenge gaining ground with every stride to cause a mild upset and prevail by two lengths in 1:59.3.

Trained by Marc Tardif for owner Leighton Property, the daughter of Western Maverick took a new lifetime mark while winning her second race of the season.  She paid $5.80 to win, and was bred in Maine by Laurie Harding and Reginald Duguay.

Animore Sass was a fast closing second; Mrs Foxy Roxy hung on for third.

The Maine Sire Stakes returns to Bangor on Wednesday (Sept. 4) for the 2-year-old male pacers, continues Saturday (Sept. 7) for all four divisions of trotters and Sunday (Sept. 8) with the 2-year-old filly pacers.

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

September 2, 2024 — by Chris Tully, for the Maine Sire Stakes
(Holli Niles photos)

WINDSOR, ME – The 3-year-old colt and gelding pacers highlighted the Labor Day weekend Maine Sire Stakes at Windsor Fair on Sunday (September 1) with a pair of $19,000-plus divisions where the top horse in the division continued his winning ways. 

Two Fold Cold needs no introduction to the Downeast faithful as the Marc Tardif-trained son of Deuce Seelster has dominated the sophomore pacing ranks throughout the season.  Sunday was no exception as the unbeaten gelding provided for a thrilling finish to extend his streak to seven sire stakes events and eight on the season.

Scoring from pylon position in the early $19,466 non-wagering race, driver Kevin Switzer Jr. floated away from the car and set comfortable fractions of 31.1 and 1:01.3 before increasing the tempo.  While Justcallmebuck (Heath Campbell) was tracking closely in the pocket, the third panel was recorded in a swifter 1:31.2, which prompted the challenger to pop the deuce and advance uncovered on the outside and through the turn.

At the head of the stretch stablemate Arts Flight (Andy Harrington) was looking for racing room up the inside, while Justcallmebuck was bearing down on the leader in mid-stretch.  Seemingly unconcerned, Switzer was hand driving his charge down to the wire for a photo finish.

When the dust settled, Two Fold Cold had done it again, prevailing by a neck margin in 2:00.3 over Justcallmebuck.  Owned and trained by Marc Tardif, it was the star’s 12^th lifetime victory, which raised his career earnings to $107,074.  He was bred by Gary and Kristina Hall.

Arts Flight finished third.

In the other $19,691 division for 3-year-old male pacers, carded as race one at Windsor Fair, driver Walter Case Jr. left alertly with Wes’s Challenge while rebuffing the advancement of Hesjustadelight and Ron Cushing into a 28.3 opening panel.

While the co-favorites were 1-2 heading into the 1:00 softer half, Oakleypopsthedeuce (McGwire Sowers) brushes from fourth to challenge the leader first up and got to his throat latch before the 5/8’s pole.

Case spurned that encounter before reaching the 1:30 third panel, with Hesjustadelight locked in the box and Whats For Suppaah (Aaron Hall) blasting three wide on the outside around the final turn.

With Oakleypopsthedeuce fading Cushing found a seam with Hesjustadelight as they turned for home and charged down the lane to prevail in another thrilling photo finish.  The margin for win was a head over Wes’s Challenge in 2:00.1.

Trained by Heidi Cushing for owners Ron Cushing, Lynn-Marie Plouffe (breeder), Anthony Romanelli & Joseph Romanelli, the son of Western Maverick picked up his second victory of the season.  He paid $4.40 to win and increased his lifetime earnings to $115,984.

Whats For Suppaah finished third.

The Maine Sire Stakes concludes at Windsor Fair on Labor Day Monday (Sept. 2) with the sophomore filly pacers.  The Maine-bred program returns to Bangor on Wednesday (Sept. 4) for the 2-year-old male pacers and then Saturday (Sept. 7) for all four divisions of trotters.

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

September 1, 2024 — by Chris Tully, for the Maine Sire Stakes
(Holli Niles photos)

WINDSOR, ME – Freshmen trotting phenom Whatawonder has continued his wondrous run of dominance, taking his seventh consecutive victory on Saturday (Aug. 31) at Maine’s Windsor Fair.

In his $19,558 division of the Maine Sire Stakes for 2-year-old trotting colts and geldings, the son of Whataworkout did what he always does, take the top and never look back.  Driven to his wire-to-wire romp by Ken Watson, the talented gelding maintained a formidable lead throughout the mile and trotted home by four lengths in 2:03.4, a new lifetime best.

Trained by Lisa Watson for owner-breeder Barbara Lawson, it was Whatawonder’s sixth straight stakes victory.  His lifetime earnings through seven career starts has now reached $52,059.

Liberty’s Wildcard (Kevin Switzer Jr.) finished second; stable mate Katahdin Victory (Wally Watson) was third in the first of three non-wagering events held before the regular card at Windsor.

$19,483 was on the line when four sophomore trotting fillies went postward in their division of the Maine Sire Stakes.  With points leader Pembroke Breeze taking the week off, it was smooth sailing for My Saving Grace and Team Athearn as they enjoyed a coast-to-coast voyage around the Windsor oval.

Driver Mark Athearn had 3-1/2 lengths on the field when he tripped the timer in 2:06.2.  Trained by Gretchen Athearn for owner Margaret Thyng, the daughter of Shake It Off Lindy picked up her third seasonal victory.  She was bred in Maine by Leighton Property and now has $93,774 in career earnings.

Bernie’s Legacy (Dave Ingraham) finished second; Twisted Venture (Mike Cushing) was third.

A little shuffling of the deck occurred in the $19,483 3-year-old colt and gelding trot as the Valerie Grondin-trained Pembroke Will (Heath Campbell) prevailed from off the pace to grab his second win of the season. 

Pacesetting Carrabassett (Mark Athearn) appeared to have things his own way while setting comfortable fractions of 31, 1:03.1 and 1:34.1 while maintaining a two-length margin. 

However, the leader was engulfed by Team Grondin entrants at the head of the stretch as Chipper Dale and Drew Campbell, who were looking for their fifth straight win, looked Carrabassatt right in the eye.  But, it was Heath Campbell and Pembroke Will that had the extra brush at the end to overtake both combatants and grab the victory in 2:05 by half a length.

Owned and bred by Bill Varney, the son of Pembroke Slugger increased his lifetime earnings to $106,504.

Carrabassett finished second; Chipper Dale was third.

The sole Maine Sire Stakes wagering event on the Saturday (Aug. 31) afternoon Windsor card saw seven 2-year-old trotting fillies vying for the $19,841 purse.

Little Shot (Ivan Davies) grabbed the point while 6-5 favorite Barbella (Bruce Ranger) protected the two-hole as Blizzard’s Fury (Switzer) charged out from post six but jumped it off in the turn.

Heading into the 31.4 opening panel, Blizzard’s Fury was back trotting and moving up first over from sixth and trying to play ‘catch up.’  By the 1:03.4 half-mile marker, Blizzard’s Fury was rolling swiftly and already alongside the pocket-sitting Barbella.

As the field moved down the backstretch the final time, Switzer and Blizzard’s Fury had gained a half-length advantage over the pacesetting Little Shot into a 1:36.1 third stanza.  Around the turn Blizzard’s Fury had taken command and increased the tempo as Lady Lake Marty (Ken Watson) made a furious bid to catch the new leader.

The wire arrived just in time as Blizzard’s Fury held on to win by a quarter length in 2:07.1.  Trained by Marc Tardif for owner-breeder Leighton Property, it was the second win in six starts for the daughter of Whataworkout.  She paid $19.00 to win.

Barbella finished third.

The Maine Sire Stakes continues with the 3-year-old male pacers on Sunday (Sept. 1), and concludes at Windsor Fair on Labor Day Monday (Sept. 2) with the sophomore filly pacers.  The Maine-bred program returns to Bangor on Wednesday (Sept. 4) for the 2-year-old male pacers.

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