July 2, 2026 — by Chris Tully, for the Maine Sire Stakes
(Joe Shaw photos)
CUMBERLAND, ME – Snowonthepines, the unbeaten 3-year-old Maine-bred pacing filly, was barred from the wagering in just her third start of the year at Bangor Raceway on Wednesday (July 1), a track decision that had little effect on the outcome.
With regular driver Kevin Switzer Jr. out of town, Bruce Ranger got the call in the $15,434 division of the Maine Sire Stakes for sophomore sidestepping distaffs. Leaving with the same dominance as in her previous outings, the daughter of Dude’s The Man set swift early fractions of :27.4 and :58 in the first circuit, having been pressed in the early going by eventual pocket sitter Ekorus (Nick Graffam).
Past the half and heading down the backstretch She’s A Firefly (Andy Harrington) moved first over and got to the head of Ekorus into a 1:27.1 third panel, with Snowonthepines putting five lengths between herself and her pursuers.
With no apparent threat to her dominance, Ranger set Snowonthepines on cruise control and proceeded down the Bass Park homestretch. Unfettered, the pair glided across the wire by 6-1/4 lengths the best in 1:56.4, a new lifetime best.
Winning all nine of her races at two, Snowonthepines has three wins this season for trainer Marc Tardif and owner-breeder Leighton Property. There were no mutuels on the winner as she was barred from the betting.
Ekorus, the 1-5 favorite finished second; Graceofspades (Dave Ingraham) got up to be third.
In the other $15,209 division, the 4-5 favorite Dudelookslikeafily looked like she was going to have things her own way.
Driver Aaron Hall sent the daughter of Dude’s The Man right to the top in an instant and led the field through opening panels of :29 and 59.4 to the half, while Just Delightful (9-5, Ron Cushing) was pressing onward first over from the start.
Heath Campbell tipped Heymickeyyousofine (3-1) to grab that second over cover while heading to the midway point. Approaching the 1:29.2 third panel a ‘hung out to dry’ a determined Just Delightful looked the leader right in the eye. Off the turn Heymickeyyousofine tipped three wide with Just Delightful still engaging the leader Dudelookslikeafily.
With all three horses battling for supremacy down the homestretch, Just Delightful, who was parked out every step of the way, digs in and gets up under the shadow of the wire to prevail by a quarter length in 1:59.
Trained by Heidi Cushing for owners Ron Cushing, Steve Downey, Anthony Romanelli and Joseph Romanelli, it was a new lifetime mark for the daughter of Western Maverick. Bred by Lynn-Marie Plouffe, she returned $5.60 for her second career victory, and first of the season.
Dudelookslikeafily hung on for second; Heymickeyyousofine was third.
Looking ahead, Cumberland hosts all the 3-year-old trotters on Saturday (July 4), with the 2-year-old pacing fillies making their pari-mutuel debut on Sunday (July 5) at Bangor.
For more information about the Maine Standardbred Breeders Stakes, follow them on Facebook @MaineBreedersAssociation, or go to their website: MaineSireStakes.com
