My Saving Grace hasn’t had to endure much hardship in her short but successful career as the freshman filly is a perfect three-for-three so far this season in Maine Sire Stakes competition.
Driven by Mark Athearn for trainer Gretchen Athearn, the young daughter of Shake It Off Lindy (a son of Crazed) hasn’t had to save anything for next week as she scampered off to victory lane by eight lengths in her $14,367 two-year-old filly trot for Pine Tree State-breds.
Under sunny skies, the talented distaff stopped the timer in 2:06.3 to take a new lifetime mark over her home track Cumberland oval. Owned by Margaret Thyng and bred by Leighton Property, My Saving Grace has saved up a nice nest egg of $23,487 so far this season.
Coupled with last week’s romp at Bangor, the frosh filly has a combined margin of victory of 14-3/4 lengths. My Saving Grace paid $3 to win. Pembroke Breeze (Heath Campbell) finished second; Twisted Venture (Mike Cushing) was third.
For the sophomore trotting fillies, it was a case of location, location, location.
In the $14,952 Maine Sire Stakes for three-year-old diagonally-gaited distaffs, heavy favourite Shesalilbitmouthy ducked, pulled three-wide, and then ducked again before the field reached the pedestrian half in 1:02.3, following a :30.4 opening panel.
At the start, Another Adventure (Kevin Switzer Jr.) had taken command initially, but begrudgingly yielded to Melanias Best (John Nason), who was intent on taking no prisoners. After getting stung to the quarter, and then parking the favourite, Nason found himself leading the way with an empty tank in that filly’s first seasonal purse start.
First up was Wild Ending (Ivan Davies) with Shesalilbitmouthy and Hall in a tight pocket third. At the decisive 1:33.2 third panel, Wild Ending took the lead over Melanias Best, who had called it an afternoon. Another Adventure had taken chase and was now beside the favourite, locking her behind the tiring former pacesetter.
As the field rounded the final turn, it was a race for second as Wild Ending had put all the wild antics behind her. Another Adventure was too busy looking around to mount a serious stretch drive, but hung on to be second. B R Glory (Wally Watson) swooped them all to be a fast closing third.
Trained and driven by Ivan Davies, Wild Ending picked up her second lifetime victory for owner Anita Anastosopoulis. The daughter of Boy Band was bred in Maine by the late Michael Andrew. She paid 4.80 to win.
In the first division for three-year-old filly pacers Katelyns Angel grabbed her second wire-to-wire victory, winning the $14,684 Maine Sire Stake in a lifetime mark equalling 1:58.2. Driven to a 10-1/4-length romp by Kevin Switzer Jr. for trainer Marc Tardif, the daughter of Western Maverick is owned and was bred the Leightons. She paid $4 to win. Slight favourite La Mambacita (Campbell) finished second and Ally Mac (Nick Graffam) was third.
The second division was also an unimpeded rout by South St Dottie in a well-rated 2:00.2. Driven by Nick Graffam for trainer/father Mike Graffam, was on easy street after the favoured Pickmepickme (Andy Harrington) made a costly break while giving chase in the final turn. The Jan Donaway-owned and bred daughter of Western Maverick is heretofore undefeated in five seasonal Maine Sire Stakes events. South St Dottie paid $4.80 to win. Pickmepickme got back pacing and finished second. Stablemate Justcallmemimi (Bruce Ranger-Graffam) was third.
Three $7,000 divisions of the Portland Breakwater Trotting Series were featured on the Maine Sire Stakes uncercard, lighting the way for eight finalists to compete for a $10,000 final next weekend.
The first split was a wire-to-wire romp for Showme Some Muscle who flexed his way to greater and greater lengths in front of his fellow competitors, showing the way home by seven lengths in 1:59.3. Driven by Kevin Switzer Jr. for trainer Candace Brandstatter and owner Seri Reddy, the five-year-old son of Muscle Mass picked up the 12th win of his career, but first of the season for his new connections. Showme Some Muscle paid $4.20 to win. No Mo Fashion (Walter Case Jr.) finished second and Pembroke Faye (Heath Campbell) was third.
Fit Bitt exercised his right to the front end, where the six-year-old Muscle Mass gelding was setting the tempo and keeping the rest of the field at bay. Driven by Aaron Hall for trainer Ralph D’Amelio II, the duo received a little encouragement from second-place finisher Prescott (Andy Harrington) down the lane, but ultimately prevailed in 2:01.1. Fit Bitt is owned by Mona Dodd and paid $2.60 to win. Pembroke Honcho (Heath Campbell) finished third.
The third and final leg was another front-end folly for Richsnortherndream, who withstood a late bid by favoured Maplewood Slugger (John Nason) to score in 2:01 by a quarter length. Driven by Walter Case Jr. for trainer James Dunn and owner Diane Dunn, the seven-year-old son of Northern Bailey grabbed his first win in just two seasonal starts. Always A Good Time finished third.
The top two finishers in each of the three legs, plus the two fastest ‘thirds’ that enter will be drawn-in to the final.
Saturday’s (July 29) Cumberland card has two divisions of freshman pacing fillies, with the freshman pacing colts going on Sunday (July 30). All the divisions are on the betting program. First post is 3:15 p.m.
Closing day of the Spring-Summer meet is just one week away on Aug. 5, which runs concurrently with Hambletonian Day at the Meadowlands. First Tracks Cumberland is offering the $25,000 Pine Tree Invitational Pace, several pop-up series finals, as well as a substantial prize for the Maine Amateur Driving Club (MADC) Spring-Summer Final.
For fans there will be a Hambletonian hat giveaway* (with the purchase of a program*) as well as the return of the popular Cumberland Derby. Patrons who enter the contest select a horse in a designated race and will have a chance to win a total of $500 in cash.
(Cumberland)