Four $14,000-plus divisions of the Maine Sire Stakes for two- and three-year-old pacers went postward at Topsham Fair on Wednesday (Aug. 9) and Thursday (Aug. 10), with the popular attraction acting as a centerpiece of the week-long agricultural fair.
Thursday’s card included two splits for freshman pacing fillies, which saw some fresh faces finding their way to the winner's circle.
In the opening non-wagering event, Dave Ingraham guided Gowestyounggrace to her first lifetime victory in the $14,662 Maine-bred two-year-old filly pace, handing Mrs Foxy Roxy (Heath Campbell) her first defeat in three starts.
Ingraham was happy to let Mrs Foxy Roxy and Campbell cut the early fractions of :31.2 and 1:04.1 around the tight turns of the Topsham Fair track. Despite the soft half and an up-tempo 1:36 third panel, Ingraham was able to take the lead by the head of the stretch and prevail by 2-1/2 lengths. Tripping the timer in 2:05.4, Gowestyounggrace took her first lifetime record and the lion’s share of the purse while breaking her maiden.
Owned by Sharon Ward with trainer Fred Ward Jr., the daughter of Western Maverick was also bred in Maine by the Wards.
For Mrs Foxy Roxy, it was the second time in five starts that she finished second in a Maine Sire Stakes, having won the other three while still maintaining a healthy lead in the divisional point standings.
Push Your Luck (Andy Harrington) finished third.
In the second $14,486 two-year-old filly pace, Whos Perfect had not a care in the world as she toured the Topsham circuit, capturing every call and scoring in a new lifetime best 2:03.1.
Driven by Heath Campbell for trainer Valerie Grondin, the daughter of Western Maverick is owned by breeder Lynn-Marie Plouffe with co-owners Dick and Patty McKeen. Now with two wins and two seconds in Maine Sire Stakes company, she has amassed $23,140 in seasonal earnings. Whos Perfect paid $5.60 to win.
Animore Sass (Harrington) finished second and Ghost Of You (Kevin Switzer Jr.) was third.
Wednesday’s (Aug. 9) card was postponed from Tuesday due to rain and brought the glamour boys out to the fair for their weekly romp.
Remaining undefeated this season is the talk of the town, Luke McGook, who has heretofore an unblemished six-for-six record. Scoring in 2:00 for regular pilot Kevin Switzer Jr. and trainer Marc Tardif, the three-year-old son of Rock N Roll World added another $14,917 Maine Sire Stakes to his growing résumé.
Two Towns Over (Aaron Hall) cut the fractions of :29.2, 1:01 and 1:30.4 with Luke McGook right on his helmet. However, when the field turned for home, the horse with the funny name was all business as he tipped off the pylons and battled stride for stride with the pacesetter down to the wire to ultimately prevail by a scant quarter of a length.
Luke McGook was the heavy 1-9 favourite and paid $2.20 to win. Owned by Leighton Property, he was bred in Maine by Erika Saucier.
His sophomore stablemate Rockaroundsam (Harrington) was third.
In a training sweep of the glamour boys division, the well-stocked stable of Marc and Peggy Tardif sent out their own So Rock N Roll to overpower his foes. Scoring in an identical 2:00 over the Topsham half-mile oval, the son of Western Maverick took his $15,142 sophomore colt and gelding pace in dominant fashion following a bold :28.4 quarter-move from the back of the pack.
Driven by Walter Case Jr. for owner/breeder Leighton Property/Lesley Leighton, the lifetime winner of $110,403 picked up his third victory of the season.
Colt Bennett (Ingraham) finished second and Facemaskrequired (Switzer Jr.) was third.
Racing continues with freshman colt pacers on Aug. 12 at Topsham.
Next week, the circuit transitions to Skowhegan for another full week of Maine harness racing at its finest, beginning Sunday (Aug. 13) and continuing through Aug. 19.
(Maine Sire Stakes)