September 7, 2025, by Chris Tully, for the Maine Sire Stakes
(Hollianne Niles photos)
BANGOR, ME – Snowonthepines didn’t let any grass grow under her feet on Saturday (Sept. 6) at Bangor Raceway as the distaff with the unblemished record put on a speed show in her $17,000-plus division of the Maine Sire Stakes for 2-year-old pacing fillies.
Catch driver Bruce Ranger sent the daughter of Dude’s The Man out to a comfortable early lead, setting opening fractions of :28.2 and 58.4 with Dudelookslikeafily (Aaron Hall) trying to keep up in the pocket. Just Delightful (Ron Cushing) was parked from the early going, and was determined to improve their position by land, or by sea.
By the time Snowonthepines had hit the 1:28.2 third panel the swift sidestepper had put four lengths between herself and the rest of the field. With the pocket-sitting Dudelookslikeafily fading, Just Delightful was able to overcome that good Queen City air and advance down the lane.
However, there was no catching Snowonthepines who captured her seventh consecutive victory by 5-1/2 lengths in a lifetime best 1:58.3.
Trained by Marc Tardif for owner/breeder Leighton Property, the $17,124 race was held before the regular wagering card.
Just Delightful finished a game second; Artistic Girl (Andy Harrington) got up for third.
The second $17,223 division for frosh pacing fillies was conducted on the regular card at historic Bass Park with Perfectly Lovely enjoying a wire-to-wire winning effort.
Driver Aaron Hall sent the daughter of Western Maverick out to an early lead from post three, hitting the quarter in :29.4. She’s A Firefly (Nick Graffam) stuck close to Hall’s helmet as the single file field passed the half in 1:00.4.
Graceofspades (Dave Ingraham) was the first to enter the outer flow, with McKenna Jeanne (Heath Campbell) catching a second over trip into a 1:31.2 third panel.
Perfectly Lovely gained some separation at the head of the stretch and was untested through the lane to score handily by three lengths in 2:01.3, a new lifetime best.
Trained by Jimmy Nickerson for Joseph Trice, she paid $2.40 to win. Perfectly Lovely was bred in Maine by Lynne-Marie Plouffe.
She’s A Firefly finished second; Graceofspaces was third.
The Maine Sire Stakes continues at Bangor with all the 2- and 3-year-old trotters on Sunday (Sept. 7) and then the 3-year-old pacing fillies return on Wednesday (Sept. 10).
For more information about the Maine Standardbred Breeders Stakes, follow our facebook page @MaineBreedersAssociation, or go to their website: https://www.mainesirestakes.com
