The Maine Sire Stakes for three-year-old pacing colts and geldings went postward on Thursday, Oct. 2 at the famous Fryeburg Fair, with two divisions of the glamour boys wowing fans in a preview of next week’s sophomore finals.
In the $23,593 division, which was held before the regular card, This Dudes Perfect (Heath Campbell) held sway over the field at the start and led the pack through evenly rated splits of :29.3 and 1:00.1 to the half.
Dawn Two Dark (Andy Harrington) was not content with the pocket so he pulled while headed to the 1:29.1 third panel and was on top by half a length at the head of the stretch. Stalking and watching the action from off the pace was Ridgecrest Dan and John Nason who swooped both former leaders to prevail under the shadow of the wire by three parts of a length in 1:58.4. Dawn Two Dark finished second; Im Not Maverick got up for third.
Also trained by John Nason, Ridgecrest Dan (pictured above) is owned by Bill ‘Yarmouth Lumber’ Phipps and picked up his fourth win of the season. The son of Dudes The Man bred in Maine by Jason Vafiades and improved his seasonal bankroll to $71,317.
In the $23,906 division it was another come-from-behind effort by Gracies Tough Guy, who caught the pacesetter Cheatin Fate (Andy Harrington) by a nose at the wire in 1:59. Race Me Celtic (Bill Childs) was third.
Driven by Dave Ingraham for trainer Fred Ward Jr. and owner Sharon Ward, Gracies Tough Guy is a full brother to former Maine filly pacing star Gowestyounggrace. Returning $7.60, the homebred son of Western Maverick scored his first seasonal win.
The Maine Sire Stakes continues at Fryeburg with more agricultural fair racing with both divisions of three-year-old trotters on Friday (Oct. 3). The $340,000-plus USD sophomore finals of the Maine Sire Stakes take place on Saturday, Oct. 11 at Bangor Raceway.
(with files from Maine Sire Stakes)