Maine’s previously unbeaten three-year-old pacing filly Snowonthepines tasted defeat for the first time in her career on Thursday, Oct. 8 at the Fryeburg Fair, falling from grace by a whisker to the previously winless Graceofspades.
It happened on an otherwise normal fair racing day in the first $24,584 division for sophomore distaff pacers, held before the regular card.
Snowonthepines, with her 20-race win streak on the line, was sent to the top in the traditional manner by regular pilot Kevin Switzer Jr. Posting moderate early fractions of :30 and 1:01.4, the daughter of Dudes The Man had Ekorus (Joey Mosher) in the pocket behind her with Graceofspades and Dave Ingraham sitting in third.
Moving into the 1:33 third panel, Ingraham sent the daughter of Western Maverick-Gracie Gracie first over and had sprinted up right alongside the pacesetter, and as the pair turned for home they were eye to eye, and wheel to wheel.
The battle ensued down the length of the stretch with Graceofspades posting a faster :28.1 final quarter to prevail by a nose in 2:01.2 over Snowonthepines. Ekorus finished third.
Bred, owned and trained by Fred Ward Jr. and Sharon Ward of Oxford, Me., Graceofspades snapped another streak in the process — her own 23-race winless streak. A full sister to former Maine champion Gowestyounggrace, Graceofspades broke her maiden in her 24th lifetime start, previously finishing second or third 13 times.
In the second $24,584 non-betting division it was a wire-to-wire romp by Just Delightful who won by 8-3/4 lengths in 1:58.2.
Driven and co-owned by Ron Cushing for trainer Heidi Cushing and partners Stephen Downey of Quispamsis, N.B. and Anthony & Joe Romanelli of Flushing, N.Y., the daughter of Western Maverick grabbed her fourth win of the season. Dudelookslikeafily (Aaron Hall) finished second, while Perfectly Lovely (Switzer Jr.) was third.
Looking ahead, the Maine Sire Stakes concludes at Fryeburg with the three-year-old trotters on Friday, Oct. 9. The series culminates with the $320,000-plus USD Sophomore Finals, which take place at Bangor Raceway on the following Saturday, Oct. 17.
(with files from Maine Sire Stakes)