Trainer Valerie Grondin swept the Maine Sire Stakes for sophomore trotters at the Fryeburg Fair on Saturday, Oct. 5 as the popular and well-attended meet came to a close.
The first division for three-year-old trotting fillies was captured by divisional leader Pembroke Breeze, who took command early and never looked back. The daughter of Pembroke Slugger cruised through moderate fractions to score by 3-1/4 lengths in 2:03.2. Driven by Heath Campbell, the talented filly earned her seventh win in nine starts for owner and breeder Bill Varney. The early non-wagering race carried a purse of $26,632. Bernies Legacy (Dave Ingraham) finished second and My Saving Grace (Mark Athearn) was third.
The boys were up next for a three-horse race with a similar purse, where Drew Campbell got the drive back aboard Chipper Dale, who also made every call a winning one. The son of Shake It Off Lindy sprinted away from the field to win by 5-1/2 lengths in 2:03.3 for owner and breeder Lynn-Marie Plouffe. Carrabasset (Mark Athearn) finished second and Pembroke Will (Heath Campbell) was third.
During the previous afternoon card on Friday in a $26,609 non-betting Sire Stakes division, three-year-old pacing gelding Two Fold Cold (Kevin Switzer Jr.) grabbed his 11th straight win, holding off the late charge of Whats For Suppaah (Aaron Hall) by a neck in a pedestrian 2:01. The son of Deuce Seelster is owned and trained by Marc Tardif and was bred in Maine by Gary and Kristina Hall.
The other split for sophomore male pacers captured by Hesjustadelight by a head in 1:58.4. Driven by co-owner Ron Cushing for trainer Heidi Cushing and partners Lynn-Marie Plouffe (breeder) and Anthony & Joseph Romanelli, the son of Western Maverick picked up his third victory of the year. Just Call Me Buck (Heath Campbell) finished a close second and Arts Flight (Andy Harrington) was third by a neck.
The final seasonal races for all of these Pine Tree State-bred Standardbreds are four divisions of the three-year-old Maine Sire Stakes finals, which will be held at Bangor Raceway on Saturday, Oct. 12.
(With files from Maine Sire Stakes)