Week two of the Maine Sire Stakes featured three divisions of the Maine Sire Stakes for three-year-old trotters at Bangor Raceway on Sunday, June 23, with a new face joining a pair of last week’s victors that enjoyed repeat performances.

In the first $15,722 division of three-year-old trotting fillies, Bill Childs rushed his own Race Me Bombshell out to an early lead with 1-2 favourite Little Shot and Ivan Davies giving chase and ultimately taking command just past the :32 opening quarter.

Some six lengths back at the 1:03.2 half, Walter Case Jr. urged Barbella to the outside as they took their shot at the leaders. The headstrong filly passed both Race Me Bombshell and Little Shot as they approached the 1:34.2 third panel and was poised to advance further around the final turn.

However, with Little Shot forced into the pocket, Davies opted to be back out and rolling and the three fillies fanned out a across the track for the final stretch drive. Barbella, a daughter of Whataworkout and Knella Bella, prevailed by a measured length in 2:05.1, which was a new lifetime mark. Little Shot finished second and Race Me Bombshell was third.

Trained by Ken Anderson for owner Robert Zakian of York, Maine, Barbella earned her second lifetime victory and first of the season in four outings. She was bred by the late New England Hall of Famer Mike Andrew. Barbella paid $5.60 to win.

Despite an early miscue and an interference break approaching the half, even-money favourite Pandemic Princess and Heath Campbell took the $16,029 second division of the Maine Sires Stakes for three-year-old trotting fillies.

Lady Lake Marty and Ken Watson blasted out for an early lead and pulled the field through a :31 opener, only to jump off stride around the three-eighths pole and scatter her followers.  Belabelle, driven by Eric Bickmore, inherited the lead through the 1:03.2 half and continued on point past a swifter 1:33.3 third panel.  

Around the final bend, Pandemic Princess tipped to the outside and a dash for the wire ensued. Belabelle hung on gamely but Pandemic Princess had the momentum and grabbed the win by half a length in 2:04.1, a new lifetime best. Twisted Fate and Mike Cushing finished third.

Trained by Valerie Grondin for owner/breeder Lynne-Marie Plouffe of Saco, Maine, Pandemic Princess is a daughter of Whataworkout out of Bibbidi Boo who picked up her second consecutive victory this season in as many starts and is now a five-time winner lifetime. She paid $4.20 for the win.

For the second week in a row, it was another easy tour of historic Bass Park for Libertys Wildcard, who lowered his mark in the lone $16,097 Maine Sire Stakes division for three-year-old colt and gelding trotters.

Walter Case Jr. drove the son of Noble Venture-Race Me Liberty to an unabated four-length score in 2:04.2. The fractions were :30.3, 1:03.1 and 1:34.1 to three-quarters, with a :30.1 final frame to seal the deal. Katahdin Victor, driven by Wally Watson, went on an extended break while crossing the finish line second; however, was placed back to fourth by the judges. Just Foolin and Heath Campbell finished third and were placed second while Enchanted Prince and Kim Ireland was fourth placed third.

Trained by Marc Tardif for owner Leighton Property of Waterboro, Maine, Libertys Wildcard is two-for-two this year after a winless 10-race rookie season. He was bred by Jerry Stratton Jr. Libertys Wildcard paid $2.20 to win.

Touch Of Character Sweeps Cadillac Mountain Pacing Series

When the sunrise dawns on the eastern United States, its golden rays  make landfall first on the towering peak of Maine’s Cadillac Mountain. The granite sentinel has long kept guard over scenic Frenchman Bay and Acadia National Park, but just 52 miles to the mountain’s west sits another Pine Tree State landmark, Bangor Raceway at historic Bass Park, where on the first day of summer, when the sun shone at its seasonal apex, tribute was paid to the mountain with the running of the $11,644 final of the Cadillac Mountain Pacing Series.

Touch Of Character, fittingly a Maine-bred son of Shady Character out of Artful Touch, completed a three-race sweep of the series while mounting a determined gate-to-wire frontal assault on the well-heeled field. 

Leaving from the outside wing, driver Steven Wilson steadied his charge on the outer rim, content to idle like a Cadillac limousine. Only then, as his opponents arranged themselves along the pylons, did he launch a terrific rush to the lead through a brisk :27.3 opening clip.

Strategically catching a breather after reaching the half in a softer :58, Wilson quickly discouraged any pretenders while extending out through a daunting :28.2 third panel. With dominance then established, the pair cruised home by two open lengths, timed in a seasonal-best 1:55.3.

The win marked the 26th career score for the nine-year-old state-bred pacer, who is trained by Michael Cushing for owner Darrell Tibbetts of Livermore, Maine.

Wilson doubled his pleasure in the very next contest on Sunday after scoring a late, race day catch-driving assignment behind Eternal Ring.

Dismissed at 55-1 odds and leaving from the identical starting spot as Touch Of Character, Wilson was unable to recreate his former charge’s determined quarter-pole brush, becoming quickly resigned to a “first-over forever” journey. Wilson kept Eternal Ring brave and near the lead though, and when the :57.1 opening half degenerated into a 1:02 back half, was able to encourage the 12-year-old veteran to a quarter-length win.

The 1:59.1 clocking heralded the first win of the season for the Dalton Lee-owned and trained pacer, who lit up the Bangor Raceway infield board, returning a hefty $113.60 win ticket following his heroic victory.

Looking ahead, Wednesday’s Bangor program has two Maine Sire Stakes divisions for three-year-old pacing fillies, slated as races three and six on the regular card, with a first post of 3 p.m.

 (With files from Maine Sire Stakes and Bangor Raceway; photo of Barbella winning on June 22)