August 8, 2024 — by Chris Tully, for the Maine Sire Stakes (Stephanie Gray photos)
TOPSHAM, ME – The Pine Tree State’s 3-year-old pacers visited Topsham Fair in Topsham, Maine on Tuesday (Aug. 6) and Wednesday (Aug. 7) to compete in four $16,000-plus divisions of the Maine Sire Stakes. When the dust settled over the historic oval, several of the series’ top performers continued their winning ways, with their closest competitors nipping at their respective heels during the afternoon harness racing.
In the opener on Tuesday the fan favorite Gowestyounggrace led her division gate to wire to take her $16,191 division for sophomore pacing fillies, dubbed the Jake Phipps Memorial.
Scoring from pylon position, driver Dave Ingraham sent the daughter of Western Maverick out to the top to protect his strategic inside location and set an opening quarter of 31.1. Gowestyounggrace, the 3-5 favorite led the field in single file post-position order through an unchanged half in 1:02.1 with Pembroke Red (Heath Campbell) tight to her driver’s helmet.
Those two gained some separation from the field past the 1:33 expertly rated third panel, with Pembroke Red tipping out in the lane to take a shot at the pacesetter. With a 29.2 final quarter, Gowestyounggrace tripped the Topsham timer in 2:02.2, holding off the late closer by 1-1/4 lengths.
Trained by Fred Ward Jr., who also co-owns and bred with his wife Sharon Ward, it was the fourth win in a row for Gowestyounggrace. She paid $3.40 to win the tenth race of her career pushing her lifetime bankroll to $101,209.
Pembroke Red finished second; Ghost Of You (Kevin Switzer Jr.) was third.
In the second $16,416 division for 3-year-old filly pacers, the 2-5 favorite Who’s Perfect did what was expected of her by the betting public as well.
Driver Heath Campbell sent the daughter of Western Maverick out into the opening scramble, allowing Walter Case Jr. and the swift Mrs Foxy Roxy to take command by the eighth pole in the sharp first turn.
Before the 30 second opening quarter Campbell was out and re-taking the lead with Who’s Perfect, where the pair settled into a more modest 1:01.3 half-mile tempo. My Sweet Revenge (Switzer) moved first over into the 1:32.2 third panel which caused a further hastening of the racing rhythm.
Announcer Mike Sweeney exclaimed, “throw a blanket over the field’” as the pacers turned for home. Who’s Perfect was working hard to hold off the late charge of My Sweet Revenge with Mrs Foxy Roxy still glued to the pacesetter’s helmet.
At the wire Campbell and Who’s Perfect got the call, winning in 2:02.3 by half of a length. Trained by Valerie Grondin for owner-breeder Lynn-Marie Plouffe with co-owners Dick and Patty McKeen, it was her third win of the season, paying $2.80.
My Sweet Revenge finished second; Mrs Foxy Roxy was third.
On Wednesday (Aug. 7) it was the boys turn on the Topsham stage for two divisions of Maine Sire Stakes for 3-year-old pacing colts and geldings, with the several members of the Tardif Taskforce starring in the show.
In the first $16,191 division What’s For Suppaah (2-1) and driver Aaron Hall protected their inside starting position with 6-5 favorite Justcallmebuck (Heath Campbell) retaining his two-hole spot. Arts Flight (2-1, Andy Harrington) ducked in third, but tipped out down the backstretch to take command into a 29.4 opening panel.
No movement occurred through a 1:00.3 half and 1:30.4 third stanza as Arts Flight showed the way relatively unfettered. At the head of the stretch Whats For Suppaah pulled alongside the leader and made it a horse race down through the lane. The pair hit the wire together with Arts Flight prevailing by three parts of a length in 2:00.
Owned and trained by Marc Tardif, the son of Artistic Fella was bred in Maine by Lynn-Marie Plouffe. It was the colt’s third win of the season and he paid $6.60 on a two-dollar win ticket.
Wagering favorite Justcallmebuck finished third in the Scott Brewer Memorial.
Six male pacers entered the $16,416 second division, with all eyes fixed upon the seasonally unbeaten Two Fold Cold, the 2-5 favorite from post three.
When the gate sprung stable mate Wes’s Challenge (5-1, Case) scurried out for the lead in the short first turn. Driver Kevin Switzer Jr. pushed Two Fold Cold up to the point before the 29.2 opening panel, and it was all smooth sailing from there.
While things were quiet leading into the 1:01 half, Hesjustadelight (Ron Cushing) pulled first over heading into a 1:30.2 third panel with his eyes on the prize. However, Switzer and Two Fold Cold would have none of it as the challenge was met with more speed as those two paced away from the field in hand to score in 1:59.4 by 2-3/4 lengths.
Owned and trained by Marc Tardiff the son of Deuce Seelster was bred by Gary and Kristina Hall and is undefeated in five starts this year. It was the gelding’s ninth lifetime victory, which paid $2.80 to win.
Wes’s Challenge finished second; Hesjustadelight was third in the Fred Sr. and Marlene Ward Memorial.
The Maine Sire Stakes continues at Topsham with all four divisions of 2- and 3-year-old trotters racing on Saturday (Aug. 10). The Maine-bred action continues the following week at the Skowhegan Fair August 12-17.
For more information about the Maine Sire Stakes, follow our facebook page @MaineBreedersAssociation, or go to their website: https://www.mainesirestakes.com
