Four $14,000-plus divisions of Maine Sire Stakes for two- and three-year-old pacing fillies went postward on Friday (July 14) at Bangor, with three of the distaffs taking new lifetime records over the hot and fast Bass Park surface.
Hollywood Casino at Bangor played host to three early non-wagering races at 11 a.m., with the fourth and final split carded as race one on the betting program.
The sophomore fillies were the first to hit the track, with Katelyns Angel (pictured) a bridesmaid no more. Driven by Kevin Switzer Jr. for trainer Marc Tardif, the daughter of Western Maverick had finished second in all three of her previous stakes outings. All that changed Friday when Switzer Jr. sent the Leighton Property-owned and bred lass out to the front row where she remained for the duration of the flight.
It was a perfectly rated ‘training mile’ for last year’s five-time winner. Following an opening panel of :29.1, Switzer Jr. hit the half in 1:00 flat. At the three-quarter pole, she was on top four and looking for more in 1:29.2. Tripping the timer in a career-best 1:58.2, Katelyns Angel won by 8-1/2 lengths and never had an anxious moment in the $14,684 event.
Justcallmemimi (Bruce Ranger) finished second and Baileys Rock Star (Sherry Cushing) was third.
In the second $14,684 Maine-bred three-year-old filly pace, South St Dottie continued her winning ways, picking up her fourth consecutive victory in stakes company with regular pilot Nick Graffam at the controls.
Sitting a perfect pocket trip behind pacesetter La Mambacita (Heath Campbell), the daughter of Western Maverick found an extra gear and scooted home in 30 seconds to secure her place atop the divisional leaderboard.
Trained by Mike Graffam for owner-breeder Jan Donaway, South St Dottie earned her fifth lifetime victory, winning by three lengths in 1:59. La Mambacita finished second and Janie (Aaron Hall) was third.
Next, the babies took center stage in the first $14,486 two-year-old filly pace and My Sweet Revenge is a maiden no more. Making her fourth lifetime start for trainer Marc Tardif, the daughter of Western Maverick got a new mark and an education in a little over two minutes.
Scoring from post five, Walter Case Jr. scooted out for the lead with My Sweet Revenge to hit the opening panel in a snappy :30.2, but walked to the half in 1:03.2.
Sensing the tempo shift, driver Heath Campbell pulled Pembroke Red to the outside to challenge for the lead. When the would-be spoiler poked a head in front at the 1:33.3 third stanza, that was all My Sweet Revenge needed to gain some confidence and dig in for the remaining two furlongs.
The pair fought gallantly to the wire, but it was My Sweet Revenge that prevailed by half a length in 2:03.2. Owned by Leighton Property and bred by Laurie Harding and Reginald Duguay, My Sweet Revenge earned her first lifetime victory.
Pembroke Red finished second and Ghost Of You (Kevin Switzer Jr.) was third.
The final $14,486 Maine Sire Stake of the day was on the regular card and second-time starter Whos Perfect got her first race record.
Driven by Heath Campbell for trainer Valerie Grondin, the daughter of Western Maverick followed last week’s winner and 1-5 favourite Mrs Foxy Roxy (Nick Graffam) around the two-loop circuit.
Campbell kept Whos Perfect tight on Graffam’s helmet throughout heavy lifting. When the pair got into the final turn, Mrs Foxy Roxy started swishing her tail, which was Campbell’s cue to tip out and challenge the pacesetter to a stretch duel. They fought head to head, wheel to wheel and nose to nose down to the wire, but it was Whos Perfect who got up in the final strides to win by a nose in 2:04, putting in a :28.4 final quarter exclamation point. Zoes Precious RN (Mike Cushing) finished third.
Whos Perfect is owned by breeder Lynn-Marie Plouffe, Dick McKeen and Patty McKeen. She paid $11.80 to win.
During the upcoming weekend, the two-year-old pacing colts visit Cumberland on Saturday, with all the divisions of trotters racing at Bangor on Sunday in four additional Maine Sire Stakes events.
(Maine Sire Stakes)