August 6, 2026, by Chris Tully, for Maine Sire Stakes
(Joe Shaw photos)

BANGOR, ME – For the first time this season the Pine Tree State-bred 2-year-old male pacers ventured away from Cumberland and found themselves under the bright lights of Bangor Raceway’s Fair meet on Wednesday (August 5) for three $15,000 divisions of the Maine Sire Stakes. 

The first $14,978 division saw a typical wire-to-wire circuit by The Gucci Man and Kevin Switzer Jr., resulting in the colt’s third consecutive victory.

Setting moderate early fractions of :31.1 and 1:02.3, the son of Dude’s The Man was able to gain separation after a 1:32.1 third panel and win by 4-1/2 lengths in 2:01.1, under the twilight of the early evening program.

Owned, trained and bred by Marc Tardif, the 1-9 heavy favorite returned $2.20 while posting a :29.0 final quarter.  With place and show wagering suspended for the event, Painter’s Treasure (6-1, Andy Harrington, finished second; Duderrific (Heath Campbell) was third.

In the second $15,153 division of the Maine Sire Stakes for 2-year-old pacing colts and geldings, it was another wire-to-wire triumph for Top Notch Treasure who completed the circuit in 2:01, the fastest of the evening’s divisions.

Driver Mike Stevenson worked to get the front with the 6-5 second choice and then set strategic fractions of :29.1, and 1:02.1 to the half with Rustysonlytreasure (Aaron Hall) sitting in the pocket, followed by 1-2 favorite Harriman (Nick Graffam) who regained his composure following a rough gaited spell into the first turn.

Harriman was tipped back out first over heading to the half and ducked back into the loose pocket left open by Rustysonlytreasure.  Heading into the 1:32.1 third panel, Hall pulled the right line on Rustysonlytreasure to engage the leader, only to be relegated back to third around the final turn. 

Stevenson popped the earplugs at the head of the stretch and the son of State Treasurer responded with a :28.4 final quarter, keeping a squirrely gaited Harriman at bay by a measured half length.

Trained by Christopher Dubois for owner Steven Moskowitz Racing, he was bred in Maine by Lynn-Marie Plouffe and returned $4.40 for his third consecutive triumph.

Rustysonlytreasure was third.

In the third and final $15,154 division Dudeisadelight picked up his maiden victory, scoring in 2:01.4, in wire-to-wire fashion.

Co-owner and driver Ron Cushing sent the son of Dude’s The Man right to the front and never looked back as they sailed through well-rated fractions of :30.4 and 1:01.4.  Past the half Justcallmebuddy (Aaron Hall) applied pressure first over and through the 1:32.1 third panel, but was ultimately thwarted as Cushing let the pacer roll down the stretch to a 2:01.4 score.

Trained by Heidi Cushing for owners Ron Cushing, S. Downey, A. & J Romanelli, he returned $2.80.  Bred by Lynn-Marie Plouffe, he picked up his first lifetime win and a new record.

South St Justin (Nick Graffam) was placed second; Justcallmebuddy finished second, but was placed third for a pylon violation at the half.

Looking ahead, Maine’s popular Fair season rolls into the Topsham Fair with 3-year-old filly pacers on Monday (Aug. 9), the sophomore male pacers on Tuesday (Aug. 10), and all the 2- and 3- year-old trotters on Thursday (Aug. 12).

For more information about the Maine Standardbred Breeders Stakes, follow them on Facebook @MaineBreedersAssociation, or go to their website:  MaineSireStakes.com

August 3, 2026, by Chris Tully, for Maine Sire Stakes
(Joe Shaw photos)

CUMBERLAND, ME – On the final day of the Cumberland meet the Pine Tree State’s entire group of 2- and 3-year-old trotters helped close out the season on Sunday (August 2) at the iconic Southern Maine oval, with many of the series’ familiar faces increasing their leads in the point standings.   Among the group of sophomore distaff trotters is the current Belle of the Ball, Hayden, who has won four of her five seasonal outings.

One of four $14,000-plus divisions of the Maine Sire Stakes on the track’s finale program, the 3-year-old filly trot was carded as race nine, and once again, Hayden was made the prohibitive public choice at 1-9.

Trainer-driver Gary Hall left swiftly from post two with the daughter of Cantab Fashion and set a moderate :30.1 opening panel, with Our Last Quote (Mike Cushing) grabbing the pocket trip behind the favorite.  Before the nicely rated 1:02.1 half John Nason pulled I Think I Can from third to challenge for the lead and push the tempo.

And increase the tempo she did, as the field entered the backstretch for the final time Hayden started to gain some separation as her gait hastened toward the 1:32.2 third panel.  With I Think I Can stalling on the rim Race Me Boomer and Andy Harrington shot up the pegs to improve their position.

Well in hand, Hayden drew off by 4-1/2 lengths to score in 2:02.1.

Owned and bred by Stephen Hall, it was the fourth seasonal victory for Hayden.  She returned $2.20 for the sixth win of her career, increasing her lifetime earnings to $77,903.

Our Last Quote was second; Race Me Boomer finished third in the $15,486 event.

Earlier on the card the $15,210 Maine Sire Stakes for 2-year-old trotting colts witnessed the Watson’s U Know I Know continue to dominate the division with another wire-to-wire triumph.

Ken Watson drove the son of Whataworkout to another record-lowering win in 2:05.3, prevailing by 1-1/4 lengths over Pembroke Zagursky (Heath Campbell).

Trained by Lisa Watson for owner-breeder Barbara Lawson, he returned $3.20 for his third win in a row.  Stable mate Race Me Bruno (Wally Watson) finished third.

Earlier in the day, before the pari-mutuel card, Gus’s Workout took his $14,783 division for 3-year-old male trotters. 

Last week’s victor, Wilder N Idy (Mark Athearn), jumped before the start giving driver Heath Campbell an easy lift to the front with Gus’s Workout.  The son of Whataworkout set fractions of :30.1 and 1:00.4 while maintaining a two-to-three length advantage.  By the third panel in 1:30.1 Wilder N Idy had caught up with the field and was parked second behind the pacesetter a few measures.

Down the lane Gus’s Workout had plenty of trot and was able to keep any threats at bay, drawing off by 4-1/4 lengths en route to a new 2:00 lifetime mark.

Trained by Valerie Groundin, he is owned and was bred by Lynn-Marie Plouffe.

Trottinfortreasure (Kevin Switzer Jr.) was third.

In the second $14,681 early Maine Sire Stake for 2-year-old trotting fillies it was another one-two punch by the Gary Hall stable where Princess Caledonia (Gary Hall) evened the score with last week’s victor Mikella Bella (Heath Campbell) to get the win in 2:04.4.

Co-owned, trained and driven by Gary Hall, the daughter of To The Hilt picked up her second seasonal win by five lengths.  Also owned by James Kelly Jr., Betsey Kelley and Kristina Hall, she was bred by Anita Anastosopoulos. 

Cape Cod Friday (Dave Ingraham) was third.

Looking ahead, as the early pari-mutuel season comes to an end, the Maine Sire Stakes action continues at the Bangor Fair with the 2-year-old colt pacers on Wednesday (Aug. 5).  Then, the big top and the midway are the new normal as Maine’s popular Fair season gets into full swing at Topsham with 3-year-old filly pacers on Monday (Aug. 9) and the sophomore male pacers on Tuesday (Aug. 10).

For more information about the Maine Standardbred Breeders Stakes, follow them on Facebook @MaineBreedersAssociation, or go to their website:  MaineSireStakes.com

August 2, 2026, by Chris Tully, for First Tracks Cumberland
(Joe Shaw photo)

CUMBERLAND, ME – During the penultimate program for the Spring-Summer meet at First Tracks Cumberland on Saturday (August 1) the story grew for No Small Wonder as the precocious filly took her third consecutive Maine Sire Stakes event for 2-year-old pacing fillies.

When the sixth race went postward, a $15,616 leg for freshmen distaff sidesteppers, the first to leave was second choice Wine For The Lady (7-2, Aaron Hall) who had a brief tussle for the top with Bettor’s Treasure (8-1, McGwire Sowers) as they sprinted toward a :29.1 opening panel.  As soon as Hall cleared with his charge, Kevin Switzer Jr. had the 1-5 favorite No Small Wonder out and blasted up from third to challenge for the lead.

From that point it was all over but the shouting as no one could get to the heavy favorite.  The first to pull was Lillian G (Dakota Niles) from fifth, forcing the hand of Bettor’s Treasure who rolled first over heading into a 1:00.1 half.

Well in-hand, No Small Wonder showed no signs of distress as she toyed with her opponents as they stacked up down the backstretch with Lillian G tipping three wide to engage Bettor’s Treasure and the pocket sitting Wine For The Lady as they reached the third station in 1:29.4.

With the outer flow stalling Andy Harrington skimmed the cones and put Feel The Fury into play through the final turn and used that momentum to slingshot off the bend and out to the center of the track to take third as they began the stretch drive.

Switzer Jr. finally let his filly loose as they stormed down the lane with the aggressors approaching.  Withstanding the challenge, the daughter of State Treasurer scored by 1-1/4 lengths in 2:00.1, which was the third time in as many outings that the filly has lowered her race record.

Trained by Kevin Switzer Sr. for owners KDK Standardbreds, Kathleen Mofield and Anthony Sivik Jr., it was the third consecutive victory for No Small Wonder.  Bred in Maine by Luke and Patricia Varnum, she returned $2.60.

Wine For The Lady finished second; Feel The Fury was third.

In the $5,200 featured overnight NW3500 Trot, Switzer Jr. came right back to score with Remember Titans in 1:58.3.  Owned and trained by Zach Vickerson, he returned $3.00.

Nick Graffam led all drivers on the program with four trips to the winners circle.

First post is 12:15 pm (EDT) during the extended pari-mutuel meeting, for the meet’s final program on Sunday (August 2). Following this weekend, racing resumes at the Cumberland Fair for an eight day meet during late September.  The Winter Festival at First Tracks Cumberland starts on November 8 for a fifteen-day meet through December 13.

A complete calendar and additional information can be viewed by visiting our website:

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