Two $14,000-plus divisions of Maine Sire Stakes for sophomore trotters soared through the famous Fryeburg Fair on Wednesday, Oct. 4 with the impressive pair of Ivan Davies-trained and driven pupils scoring again before the regular pari-mutuel card.
In the first $14,827 Maine Sire Stakes event the rest of the field of three-year-old trotting fillies were content to let Davies’ Wild Ending cut the fractions while they followed along politely. Through moderate panels of :31, 1:01.4 and 1:32.2, the conditioner-reinsman was very much in command with the top filly, making every call a winning one.
Wild Ending and Davies hit the wire in 2:03, scoring by 3-1/2 lengths. The daughter of Boy Band is owned by Anita ‘Bunny’ Anastosopoulos-Andrew, and bred by the late Mike Andrew. It was Wild Ending’s eighth win of the season, and fourth victory in a row.
Shesalilbitmouthy (Mike Cushing) finished second and Melanias Best (John Nason) was third.
Davies came right back with the colt by the same sire, Wabanaki, and maintained his pylon starting position through fractions of :30.1, 1:00.4 and 1:31.
By the head of the stretch, Davies had Wabanaki rolling with a full head of steam and put an additional 5-1/2 lengths between himself and the rest of the field, scoring in 2:00.1.
Also owned by Anita ‘Bunny’ Anastosopoulos-Andrew, and bred by the late Mike Andrew, Wabanaki earned his seventh win of the season.
Eustis (Mike Stevenson) finished second and Outlawofthevalley (Kevin Switzer Jr.) was third.
The Maine Sire Stakes resumes at the Fryeburg Fair on Friday, Oct. 6 with the three-year-old pacing fillies and concludes Saturday, Oct. 7 with sophomore male pacers. All the Pine Tree State-sired three-year-olds reconvene at Bangor for their $280,000-plus divisional finals on Saturday, Oct. 14.
(Maine Sire Stakes)