Wilder N Idy, last season’s champion freshman trotting gelding, and upstart Hayden, a sophomore trotting filly, captured their respective divisions of the Maine Sire Stakes on Sunday, June 21 at First Tracks Cumberland.

For the connections of Wilder N Idy, it has been a wild ride with the To The Hilt-Wild Pine Princess gelding, who won eight of his nine outings last year and earned $146,496.

Trained by Gretchen Athearn and owned by Patricia Leavitt of Buxton, Maine, the Napoleonic high-stepper put in a few steps while going to the gate in last year’s $118,876 Maine Sires Stakes final, surely giving his connections a few anxious moments. Nonetheless, Wilder N Idy, under the confident hold of trottin’ horseman Mark Athearn, got it all back together, regained command and drew off a champion. Coming off a qualifier last week, the local sophomore won by more than 36 lengths in 2:01.3, removing any doubt that the ‘boss was back.’

In Sunday’s $20,821 Maine Sires Stakes for three-year-old trotting colts and gelding, Wilder N Idy reminded his foes who was in command, as the diminutive powerhouse strolled through opening fractions of :30 and 1:02.1 with his fellow disciples in moderate pursuit. Following that second-quarter breather, Athearn hit the gas and rolled through a 1:32.4 third panel and brushed home a 2-1/2-length winner in 2:01.4. 

The early, non-wagering race was the first seasonal outing for Wilder N Idy. Guss Workout (Heath Campbell) finished second and Trottinfortreasure (Kevin Switzer Jr.) completed the field.

In the $21,811 division for three-year-old trotting fillies in the Maine Sire Stakes, last season’s bridesmaid took center stage for a change and opened her campaign with a victory against freshman filly champ Pembroke Lady.

When the wings folded, trainer/driver Gary Hall sent his charge Hayden out to a speedy start and took command almost instantly from post six. The daughter of Cantab Fashion-AJs Baby showed a quick turn of foot off the car and rolled to the top with ease and settled down while setting a modest :30.1 opening panel. 

Mike Cushing, driving Our Last Quote from post three, made Heath Campbell work for the pocket with 3-5 favourite Pembroke Lady, which he held loosely while the field moved down the backstretch, around the turn and into a 1:03 half. 

Heading down the backside the final time, Cushing and Our Last Quote flushed Campbell with Pembroke Lady, which resulted in a three-deep cavalry charge around the final turn following a soft 1:35 third panel. Despite staying with the pacesetter around the final turn, the public choice could not catch Hayden, who scampered off down the stretch to draw off by 3-1/4 lengths while in hand and trip the timer in 2:04.3.  Pembroke Lady finished second and Our Last Quote was third.

Owned and bred by Stephen Hall of Newport, Maine, Hayden now has three wins in nine career starts with earnings totalling $75,103. 

She returned $12.40 to win.

Looking ahead, the Wednesday, June 24 program at Bangor Raceway will feature the three-year-old filly pacers in the Maine Sires Stakes, with the three-year-old colt pacers returning to Cumberland on Saturday, June 27.

(With files from Maine Sire Stakes; photo of Wilder N Idy winning on June 21)