October 5, 2023 — by Chris Tully, for the Maine Sire Stakes
FARMINGTON, ME – Two $14,000-plus divisions of Maine Sire Stakes for sophomore trotters soared through the famous Fryeburg Fair on Wednesday (Oct. 4) with the impressive pair of Ivan Davies-trained and driven pupils scoring again before the regular pari-mutuel card.
In the first $14,827 Maine Sire Stakes event the rest of the field of 3-year-old trotting fillies were content to let Davies’ Wild Ending cut the fractions while they followed along politely. Through moderate panels of :31, 1:01.4 and 1:32.2, the conditioner-reinsman was very much in command with the top filly, making every call a winning one.
Wild Ending and Davies hit the wire in 2:03, scoring by 3-1/2 lengths. The daughter of Boy Band is owned by Anita ‘Bunny’ Anastosopoulos-Andrew, and bred by the late Mike Andrew. It was Wild Ending’s eighth win of the season, and fourth victory in a row.
She’salilbitmouthy (Mike Cushing) finished second; Melania’s Best (John Nason) was third.
Davies came right back with the colt by the same sire, Wabanaki, and maintained his pylon starting position through fractions of :30.1, 1:00.4 and 1:31.
By the head of the stretch Davies had Wabanaki rolling with a full head of steam and put an additional 5-1/2 lengths between himself and the rest of the field, scoring in 2:00.1.
Also owned by Anita ‘Bunny’ Anastosopoulos-Andrew, and bred by the late Mike Andrew, it was Wabanaki’s seventh win of the season.
Eustis (Mike Stevenson-Gordon Corey) finished second; Outlawofthevalley (Kevin Switzer Jr.-Marc Tardif) was third.
The Maine Sire Stakes resumes at the Fryeburg Fair on Friday (Sept. 6) with the 3-year-old pacing fillies and concludes Saturday (Oct. 7) with sophomore male pacers. All the Pine Tree State-sired 3-year-olds reconvene at Bangor for their $280,000-plus divisional finals on Saturday (Oct. 14).
For more information about the Maine Sire Stakes, follow their Facebook page @MaineBreedersAssociation, or go to their website: https://www.mainesirestakes.com
