June 16, 2025 — by Chris Tully, for the Maine Sire Stakes
(Hollianne Niles photo)

BANGOR, ME – Three $11,000-plus divisions of the Maine Sire Stakes for 3-year-old trotters went postward on Sunday (June 15) at Bangor Raceway, giving the Pine Tree State faithful something new to cheer about.

In the first non-betting $11,526 division of 3-year-old colt and gelding trotters it was an easy tour of the historic Bass Park oval for Liberty’s Wildcard, who broke his maiden in the process.

Driven by Walter Case Jr. the son of Noble Venture had a basket full of eight second place finishes last season as a freshman, constantly chasing divisional champion and rival Whatawonder.  However, with that colt curiously absent from the event, Liberty’s Wildcard rolled to an easy victory in 2:04.4, winning by four lengths.

Trained by Marc Tardif for owner Leighton Property, he now has $51,421 in lifetime earnings, as well as a new record.  He was bred by Jerry B. Stratton Jr.

Just Foolin (Heath Campbell) finished second; Enchanted Prince (Kim Ireland) was third.

In the second early race, an $11,474 test for 3-year-old filly trotters, it was Lady Lake Marty who cut the fractions and held off the late charge of freshmen champion Little Shot to win by a nose.

Driven by Ken Watson for trainer Lisa Watson and owner John Muldoon, the daughter of Whataworkout set reasonable fractions of :31 and 1:00.3 to the half and was on top by 2-1/4 past the 1:32 third panel.

Down the lane Ivan Davies fed the swift Little Shot plenty of race track but was thwarted at the wire by a tenacious Lady Lake Marty to who took home the trophy in 2:03.4.  She was bred by Joel Wheeler.  Race Me Bombshell (Bill Childs) was third.

The second $11,698 division of the Maine Sire Stakes for 3-year-old trotting fillies was contested on the wagering card and may have been somewhat exasperating for the local punters.

Horseplayers know that trotting fillies can be somewhat temperamental, and by that very nature, unpredictable.  This particular wagering event was no exception with slight favorite Barbella (8-5, Walter Case Jr.) and second choice Pandemic Princess (9-5, Heath Campbell) both jumping off stride at the start.

With the early miscuers and wagering favorites behind them, Demonofthevalley (15-1, McGwire Sowers) inherited the lead.  That control of the pace was short lived as Pandemic Princess regained her composure and blasted to the top to take command just before the :33 opening panel. 

Barbella had also made up some ground and was poised to re-enter the fray and was parked third at the 1:04.4 half, after spotting the field some 20 lengths.  Impressively, Barbella was just four lengths behind Pandemic Princess at the 1:36.2 third stanza, and both the Whataworkout fillies had already made the best of what earlier looked like a bad situation.

Down the stretch Heath Campbell had Pandemic Princess well under wraps, with Barbella trotting up a storm in second, back just 1-1/2 lengths at the wire in 2:07.4.

Trained by Valerie Grondin for owner-breeder Lynne-Marie Plouffe, it was the fourth lifetime victory, and first of the season, for the $36,794 lifetime earner.  She paid $5.60 to win.  Demonofthevalley finished third.

Looking ahead, Wednesday’s (June 18) Bangor program has two $12,387 Maine Sire Stakes divisions for 3-year-old male pacers, slated as races two and five on the regular card with a first post of 3:00 pm. 

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