July 7, 2025 — by Chris Tully, for the Maine Sire Stakes
(Hollianne Niles photos)
BANGOR, ME – A handful of early risers made their maiden voyages to Bangor Raceway on Sunday (July 6) for the opening week of the Maine Sire Stakes for 2-year-old trotters.
Held before the regular card, the lone $11,133 division for Maine-bred 2-year-old trotting fillies was captured by Pembroke Lady in wire to wire fashion.
Driven by Heath Campbell the daughter of Pembroke Slugger got every call as she rounded the circuit through early fractions of :32.1 and 1:05. Through that first half John Nason was following closely with I Think I Can, a daughter of Noble Venture. Another Noble Venture lass, Nobella, was in rein to Wally Watson and tracked along in third.

As the field passed the third station in 1:37.1, the Valerie Grondin-trained Pembroke Lady was well in command, and then found herself all alone as I Think I Can changed her mind went off stride. Trotting down the stretch Nobella inherited second as the pacesetter tripped the timer in 2:08 to take a maiden-breaking new record by 8-1/4 lengths.
Owned by Brenda Varney and bred by the late Bill Varney, it was the first purse race for the homebred lass who already had two qualifiers under her girth, and trotted home in a swift :30.4.
The $10,866 colt division was a walkover for Wilder N Idy, a 2-year-old son of To The Hilt.
Driven by Mark Athearn for trainer Gretchen Athearn and owner Patrick Leavitt, the colt set fractions of :32.2, 1:06.2, and 1:38.1 before cruising home to take a new record of 2:09.2, last quarter in :31.1.
To The Hilt was bred by the late Mike Andrew.

Looking ahead, Wednesday’s (July 9) program at Bangor Raceway hosts two $12,162 Maine Sire Stakes divisions for 3-year-old pacing colts and geldings, carded as races three and five with post time 3:00 pm.
For more information about the Maine Standardbred Breeders Stakes, follow our facebook page @MaineBreedersAssociation, or go to their website: https://www.mainesirestakes.com