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
