Just as June heralds the beginning of summer, the arrival of Maine Sire Stakes season marks a certain regeneration of hope and a renewal of vigor, as anxious breeders, owners, trainers and grooms bring their young equine charges to the raceway for the very first time as they did on Saturday (June 24) at Scarborough Downs.

Under ideal twilight conditions, the freshman filly pacers were the first of the Maine Sire Stakes combatants to arrive at Scarborough Downs this season. They were split into near-twin divisions and sent postward for purses of $10,007 and $10,182, respectively

Shes A Maverick responded handsomely at every asking in the first stakes division, as the daughter of Western Maverick-Fiber Art held off a determined cavalry charge en route to scoring her first career victory, timed in an in-hand 2:04, much to the delight of her owner, Carolyn Corso of Henderson, Nev.

Driver/trainer John Nason pushed many of his filly's buttons on Saturday with the freshman pacer responding like a veteran campaigner at every asking. When urged to leave from the gate, she quickly made the top. When Nason reined her back to get a parked foe out of his way, she graciously complied.

When asked to retake the lead at the half, she accomplished the task so quickly it hardly seemed real. The effort was, all in all, a very polished performance for a filly making only her second career start. Little Honey Badger (M. Graffam) threw in a strong rally bid to secure runner-up honours, while A Thousand Wishes (G. Mosher) held firm for the show.

With her premier victory lap now practiced and perfected, Shes A Maverick sets her sights on the summer horizons in Maine. With nine more $10,000 stakes elimination rounds and a rich $50,000 freshman final in wait in September, who can blame her?

Saturday's second stakes division saw Justcallmedee extend her unbeaten record out to a perfect two-for-two after seemingly pushing the starting gate out of her way while staking her claim for the early lead. She and driver Mark Athearn had everything their own way until Pembroke Passionly (H. Campbell) took flight to engage as they approached the three-quarter station, and from that point home the dashing divas matched strides to the wire with Justcallmedee extending out to a narrow three-quarters of a length advantage at the finish.

A daughter of Deuce Seelster-Justcallmerosie, Justcallmedee is owned by William Phipps of Yarmouth, Maine.

Pembroke Passionly held for the place while Where Does Time Go (E. Davis, Jr.) finished third.

Scarborough Downs is pleased to present twilight harness racing cards on Thursday through Saturday at 4:30 p.m. (EDT) with the Sunday matinee heading to post at 1:30 p.m.

For more information, visit scarboroughdowns.com or visit the track’s Facebook page.

(Scarborough Downs)