Unbeaten three-year-old Maine-bred pacing filly Snowonthepines has continued to display her dominance over her divisional rivals, winning all by herself on Wednesday, June 24 at Bangor Raceway.
Touting an unblemished record going into her $21,421 Maine Sire Stakes event, last year’s undisputed Maine two-year-old pacing filly champion has continued that reign of supremacy by scoring in a lifetime best of 1:58 at historic Bass Park.
With regular pilot Kevin Switzer Jr. at the controls, the daughter of Dudes The Man-Snow Cone A set comfortable early fractions of :29.1 and 1:00.1 to the half. Ekorus (Nick Graffam) sat a loose pocket until the 1:29.3 third panel when the pacesetter opened up on the field. With Show wagering eliminated, and Snowonthepines bet down to 1-9, the only question remaining was by how many lengths she would win by? Posting a :28.2 final quarter, the Marc Tardif-trained lass coasted home to prevail by 4-1/4 lengths. Ekorus finished second and Graceofspades (Dave Ingraham) came from off the pace to get up for third.
Owned and bred by Leighton Property of Waterboro, Maine, Snowonthepines earned her 11th consecutive lifetime victory (second this season), pushing his career bankroll to $158,060. She returned $2.20 to win.
In the earlier $121,421 Maine Sire Stakes division for three-year-old pacing fillies, Shes A Firefly illuminated the tote board with a big upset over heavy favourite Dudelookslikeafily.
When the wings folded, 1-9 shot Dudelookslikeafily (Aaron Hall) passed the pocket to forge on to the front, resulting in a :28.4 opening panel. Shes A Firefly, at 18-1, released the chalk and was settled into the garden spot by Nick Graffam through the :59.2 half-mile marker. Down the backstretch, Heymickeyyousofine (Heath Campbell) was first-over and on the move, catching up with the leader by the 1:29.2 third station. That pair battled around the long, far turn with Heymickeyyousofine poking a head in front at the head of the stretch. With Dudelookslikeafily fading in the lane and Shes A Firefly advancing up the pegs, the battle ensued right down to the wire. When the dust settled, it was Shes A Firefly on top over Heymickeyyousofine by a quarter-length in 1:59.1. Dudelookslikeafily held on for third, 1-3/4 lengths behind.
Trained by Mike Graffam for owner Bill ‘Yarmouth Lumber’ Phipps of Yarmouth, Maine, Shes A Firefly picked up her first lifetime victory, returning $38.80 for the upset. The daughter of Thirty Two Red and Fire Can Fly now has $38,636 earned from her 11 career starts.
Looking ahead, Cumberland's Saturday, June 27 program will feature the Maine Sire Stakes three-year-old colt pacers, followed by this same group of sophomore filly pacers on Wednesday, July 1. On Independence Day, Saturday, July 4, the three-year-old trotters return to Cumberland.
(With files from Maine Sire Stakes)