July 17, 2025 — by Chris Tully, for the Maine Sire Stakes
(Hollianne Niles photos)

BANGOR, ME – When Maine’s freshmen pacers met at Bangor Raceway on Wednesday (July 16) most observers were not ready for what they witnessed. 

No Maine-bred 2-year-old male pacer had ever broken the two-minute barrier so early in the season, yet in his second lifetime start Real Horrorshow did just that.

In his $11,623 division of the Maine Sire Stakes driver Kevin Switzer Jr. gave the 8/5 son of Dude’s The Man his head and let him roll out from behind the starting car.  Putting four lengths between him and the rest of the field, they reached the quarter in :29.3. 

Getting a little breather in for good measure, the Kevin Switzer Sr.-trained gelding had Dude’s The Jet (5-1, McGwire Sowers) on his helmet past the 1:00.4 half.   

Heading down the backstretch the final time the 3/2 favorite Nuh Uh (Aaron Hall) was sitting third with challenger Daytoremember (7/2, Heath Campbell) racing first over right outside of the public’s choice.  At the 1:30.2 third station Daytoremember had caught Real Horrorshow and the race was on for the wire, or so it seemed.

However, as soon as the swift pacesetter heard hoof beats, he switched into another gear and stormed off like he had seen a ghost.  Splitting the beam in 1:59.3 (a new lifetime best), Real Horrorshow showed that he is the real thing, having prevailed by 3-1/2 lengths. 

Owned by KDK Standardbreds, Kathleen Mofield and Anthony Sivik Jr., he paid $5.20 for his second consecutive stakes victory.

Bred by Luke and Patricia Varnun, ‘horrorshow’ is the phonetic spelling of ‘good’ in the language of Nadset, which was the dialect spoken in the 1971 cult classic film Clockwork Orange.  Real Horrorshow is from the Varnum’s Yankee Cruiser mare Pretty Eyes p,3,1:51.4 ($96,242) and is considered one of their favorite horses.

Daytoremember finished second; Dude’s The Jet was third.

In the other $11,449 division it wasn’t a ‘Ghost’ or a ‘Rebel’ that prevailed, as the betting public had opined, but Wowzah Clousah who provided a mild upset in week two of the Pine Tree State freshmen stakes.

When the car sped away it was Quint Asper (11-1, Andy Harrington) that protected his pylon position, with Mike Cushing ducking Wowzah Clousah into the two hole.  The field passed the opening quarter in :30 seconds flat, and were in straight, albeit gapped, alignment.

No movement through the softer 1:01.4 half, but down the backside Aaron Hall pulled a headstrong Rebel’s Revenge (2-1) to the outside to take his shot.  As the field passed the 1:32.3 third station Wowzah Clousah was stuck like glue to the helmet of the pacesetting Quint Asper, and overloaded with pace.  Around the final turn Cushing found a sliver of daylight and tipped his son of Deuce Seelster to the outside for the charge down to the wire.

Gaining momentum with every stride Wowzah Clousah put away his foes in 2:03 to establish a lifetime mark, winning by 3-1/4 lengths.

Trained and driven by Mike Cushing for owners and breeders Pamela Smith, Jane Dipompo and Charlene Cushing, it was his first lifetime victory in just his second career outing.  He paid $14.40 to win.

Wagering favorite Ghost Of Winter (6/5, Kevin Switzer Jr.) charged home late to get up for second; Quint Asper was third.

Looking ahead, Maine’s 2-year-old filly pacers head to Cumberland on Friday (July 18), with the sophomore distaff pacers coming right back on Saturday (July 19).

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