Trainer Marc Tardif swept both $17,000-plus divisions of the Maine Standardbred Breeders Stakes (MSBS) for two-year-old filly pacers at Topsham Fair on Tuesday (Aug. 9).
Katelyns Angel (pictured above) went a tough first-over trip around the narrow Topsham turns to grab her first stakes victory while winning the $17,989 opener, billed as the Jake Phipps Memorial.
Scoring from post two with Kevin Switzer Jr. in the sulky, the daughter of Western Maverick got shuffled back to fifth as the field was led to the quarter in a snappy 30 seconds by La Mambacita (Ron Cushing). Past the half in 1:01.1, Switzer Jr. pulled Katelyns Angel to challenge for the lead and was high and wide sticking a nose in front of La Mambacita at a 1:32.3 third panel. Those two fillies battled around the final turn and down the stretch with Katelyns Angel prevailing by a neck in 2:04. Justcallmemimi (Aaron Hall) finished third.
Bred by Lesley Leighton and now owned by Leighton Property, Katelyns Angel has two wins in five seasonal starts. She paid $3.40 to win.
An early non-wagering race also went to a member of the 'Tardif Taskforce' as Pickmepickme continued her winning ways, picking up the victor’s portion of the $17,814 MSBS purse.
Driven by Andy Harrington, the two-year-old daughter of Western Maverick made every stanza a winning one, cruising home by 6-1/2 lengths in 2:03.2. Janie (Mark Athearn) finished second and Ally Mac (Aaron Hall) was third.
Owned and bred by Tardif, Pickmepickme earned her second stakes victory in a row and now has three wins in five starts this year.
On Monday’s (Aug. 8) card, which was re-scheduled from Sunday, the opener went to pari-mutuel-busting longshot Wabanaki, who scored in the $18,214 MSBS for two-year-old trotting colts and geldings.
Trained and driven by Ivan Davies, the son of Boy Band shocked favourite Outlawofthevalley and paid $44.60 to win for the maiden-breaking 2:08.3 mile. Outlawofthevalley (Kevin Switzer Jr.) finished second for Tardif and Pembroke Traveler (Heath Campbell) was third.
Wabanaki is owned and was bred by Mike Andrew, who is also the co-breeder of the top sophomore trotter Rebuff.
In Monday’s $18,714 MSBS three-year-old male trot, Katahdin Mark returned to his previous form, grabbing his fourth seasonal stakes victory in a wire-to-wire romp in 2:04.4. Favourite Warriorofthevalley (Andy Harrington) from the hot Tardif stable finished second and Pembroke Fiber (Heath Campbell) was third.
Trained and driven by Gary Hall, the son of Noble Venture is the homebred property of Jim and Betsey Kelly. He paid $7 to win.
Two early non-wagering events for trotters went to:
- Shesalilbitmouthy (MSBS $17,709 two-year-old filly trot), who went wire-to-wire in 2:09.2 and was driven by Mark Athearn for trainer Gretchen Athearn and owner Bill Phipps. The daughter of Victor Blue Chip was bred by Stephen Hall.
- Pembroke Honcho (MSBS $18,736 three-year-old filly trot), who won by a nose in 2:05.3 for driver Aaron Hall and trainer Valerie Grondin. The daughter of Pembroke Slugger was bred by Lynn-Marie Plouffe and is now owned by Bill Varney.
Maine Breeders Stakes continue at Topsham through Saturday (Aug. 13).
(With files from MSBS)