When Maine’s freshman pacers met at Bangor Raceway on Wednesday, July 16, most observers were not ready for what they witnessed.

No Maine-bred two-year-old male pacer had ever broken the two-minute barrier so early in the season, yet in his second lifetime start, Real Horrorshow did just that winning his $15,922 division of the Maine Sire Stakes.

Driver Kevin Switzer Jr. gave the Dudes The Man-Pretty Eyes gelding his head and let the 8-5 shot roll out from behind the starting car. Gaining four lengths of separation on the rest of the field, they reached the quarter in :29.3. Getting a little breather in for good measure, Real Horroshow had Dudes The Jet (McGwire Sowers) on his helmet past the 1:00.4 half.  

Heading down the backstretch the final time, 3-2 favourite Nuh Uh (Aaron Hall) was sitting third with challenger Daytoremember (Heath Campbell) racing first-over right outside of the public’s choice. At the 1:30.2 third station, Daytoremember had caught Real Horrorshow and the race was on for the wire, or so it seemed.

However, as soon as the swift pacesetter heard hoof beats, he switched into another gear and stormed off like he had seen a ghost. Splitting the beam in 1:59.3, a new lifetime best, Real Horrorshow showed that he is the real thing, having prevailed by 3-1/2 lengths. Daytoremember finished second and Dudes The Jet was third.

Real Horrorshow paid $5.20 while winning his second consecutive stakes start. He is trained by Kevin Switzer Sr. and owned by KDK Standardbreds, Kathleen Mofield and Anthony Sivik Jr. 

The freshman was bred by Luke and Patricia Varnum. ‘Horrorshow’ is the phonetic spelling of ‘good’ in the language of Nadset, which was the dialect spoken in the 1971 cult classic film Clockwork Orange. Real Horrorshow is out of the Varnum’s Yankee Cruiser mare, Pretty Eyes p,3,1:51.4 ($96,242), and is considered one of their favourite horses.

In the other $15,684 division, it wasn’t a ‘Ghost’ or a ‘Rebel’ that prevailed, as the betting public had opined, but Wowzah Clousah who provided a mild upset in week two of the Pine Tree State freshman stakes.

When the car sped away, Quint Asper (Andy Harrington) protected his pylon position, with Mike Cushing ducking Wowzah Clousah into the two-hole. The field passed the opening quarter in 30 seconds flat and were in straight, albeit gapped, alignment. There was no movement through the softer second panel to the half in 1:01.4, but down the backside, Aaron Hall pulled a headstrong Rebels Revenge to the outside to take his shot. 

As the field passed the 1:32.3 third station, Wowzah Clousah was stuck like glue to the helmet of the pacesetting Quint Asper and overloaded with pace. Around the final turn, Cushing found a sliver of daylight and tipped the Deuce Seelster-Zoe Blue Chip gelding to the outside for the charge down to the wire. Gaining momentum with every stride, Wowzah Clousah put away his foes in a 2:03 maiden-breaking mile, winning by 3-1/4 lengths. The 6-5 favourite, Ghost Of Winter (Kevin Switzer Jr.), charged home late to get up for second over Quint Asper.

Trained and driven by Mike Cushing for owners and breeders Pamela Smith, Jane Dipompo and Charlene Cushing, Wowzah Clousah found success in his second lifetime start. He paid $14.40 to win.

Looking ahead, Maine’s two-year-old filly pacers head to Cumberland on Friday, July 18, with the sophomore filly pacers in action on Saturday, July 19.

(With files from Maine Sire Stakes)