Three divisions of the Maine Sire Stakes for three-year-old trotters went postward on Sunday, June 15 at Bangor Raceway, giving the Pine Tree State faithful something new to cheer about.
In the first non-betting $15,576 division of three-year-old colt and gelding trotters, the season-debuting Libertys Wildcard broke his maiden in an easy tour of the historic Bass Park oval.
Driven by Walter Case Jr., the son of Noble Venture-Race My Liberty had a basket full of eight second-place finishes last season as a freshman, constantly chasing divisional champion and rival Whatawonder. However, with that colt curiously absent from the event, Libertys Wildcard rolled to an easy victory in 2:04.4, winning by four lengths. Just Foolin (Heath Campbell) finished second and Enchanted Prince (Kim Ireland) was third.
Trained by Marc Tardif for owner Leighton Property of Waterboro, Maine, Libertys Wildcard now has nearly $70,000 in lifetime earnings from 11 starts. He was bred by Jerry B. Stratton Jr.
In the second early race, a $15,505 test for three-year-old filly trotters, Lady Lake Marty cut the fractions and held off the late charge of freshman champion Little Shot to win by a nose and score her first career victory.
Driven by Ken Watson for trainer Lisa Watson and owner John Muldoon of Marblehead, Massachusetts, the season-debuting Lady Lake Marty set reasonable fractions of :31 and 1:00.3 to the half and was on top by 2-1/2 past the 1:32 third panel. Down the lane, Ivan Davies fed the swift Little Shot plenty of racetrack but was thwarted at the wire by a tenacious Lady Lake Marty, who took home the trophy in 2:03.4. Race Me Bombshell (Bill Childs) was third.
The daughter of Whataworkout-Rendezvous Kemp, who has earned $33,808 in 11 lifetime starts, was bred by Joel Wheeler.
The second $15,808 division of the Maine Sire Stakes for three-year-old trotting fillies was contested on the wagering card and may have been somewhat exasperating for the local punters. Horseplayers know that trotting fillies can be somewhat temperamental, and by that very nature, unpredictable.
This particular wagering event was no exception with slight 8-5 favourite Barbella (Walter Case Jr.) and 9-5 second choice Pandemic Princess (Heath Campbell) both jumping off stride at the start. With the early miscuers and wagering favourites behind them, Demonofthevalley (McGwire Sowers) inherited the lead. Her lead was short-lived though as Pandemic Princess regained her composure and blasted to the top to take command just before the :33 opening panel. Barbella had also made up some ground and was poised to re-enter the fray and was parked third at the 1:04.4 half, after spotting the field some 20 lengths.
Impressively, Barbella was just four lengths behind Pandemic Princess at the 1:36.2 third stanza, and both Whataworkout fillies had already made the best of what earlier looked like a bad situation. Down the stretch, Heath Campbell had Pandemic Princess well under wraps, with Barbella trotting up a storm in second, back just 1-1/2 lengths at the wire in 2:07.4. Demonofthevalley finished third.
Trained by Valerie Grondin for owner/breeder Lynne-Marie Plouffe of Saco, Maine, the season-debuting Pandemic Princess earned her fourth lifetime victory in nine starts while pushing her bankroll over $50,000. The filly out of Maine stakes champion Bibbidi Boo paid $5.60 to win.
Looking ahead, the Wednesday, June 18 program at Bangor has two Maine Sire Stakes divisions for three-year-old male pacers, slated as races two and five on the regular card with a first post of 3 p.m.
(With files from Maine Sire Stakes)