A pair of Maine Sire Stakes for two-year-old pacing colts and geldings helped kick off a full week of harness racing action at the 207th year of the Skowhegan State Fair, with a particular divisional leader cushioning his point total at the historic venue.
The United States' oldest consecutively running agricultural fair, Skowhegan has been operating annually since 1818.Situated in the heart of Maine’s Kennebec Valley, the Skowhegan State Fair has run without interruption, through the great depression, two world wars, and many smaller, though significant battles.
Of course, harness racing has been a part of that storied past since the inception. Therefore, it is only fitting that the Maine-bred colts that competed at the fair on Monday, Aug. 11 were presented to a host of fair-goers and racing fans alike.
In the first $23,216 split for freshmen male pacers, driver Heath Campbell gave Daytoremember a day that he may never forget.
Scoring from post four, the Valerie Grondin-owned, trained and bred son of Dudes The Man-Paxxie was sent right to the top and put up early fractions of :30.1 and 1:03.1. Mias Boy (Mark Athearn) was enjoying a tight pocket trip while Silence Ofdarkness (McGwire Sowers) was the first to start the outer flow while the field passed the third panel in 1:34.1.
At the head of the stretch, Campbell let Daytoremember roll on to a four-length victory in 2:02.4, which was the colt’s first lifetime win. Heretofore, Daytoremember has had the misfortune of drawing in with Real Horrorshow in his last four outings, finishing second in each instance. However, this day was different as Daytoremember is a maiden no more, thanks in large part to his swift :28.3 final quarter.
Mias Boy finished second and Itsjustmoney (Andy Harrington) rallied for third in the non-wagering event.
In the second $23,458 Maine Sire Stakes event, it was no surprise that Real Horrorshow took the lead from his pylon-skimming starting position.
Driven by Kevin Switzer Jr., the divisional leader and unbeaten phenom has had things his own way in his previous four starts, and his Skowhegan jaunt appeared to be no different.
Following the pacesetter, Wowzah Clousah (Mike Cushing) sat a comfortable pocket trip through opening splits of :30 and 1:00.1. Heading into the 1:30.3 third stanza, Nuh Uh (Aaron Hall) had inched up alongside Wowzah Clousah and matched strides around the final turn.
Down the stretch, the pocket-sitting Wowzah Clousah jumped off stride while Real Horrorshow was showing his heels to the field. Winning by 4-1/4 lengths in 1:59.1, the son of Dudes The Man-Pretty Eyes equalled his lifetime mark and nabbed his fifth straight victory.
Trained by Kevin Switzer Sr. for owners KDK Standardbreds, Kathleen Mofield and Anthony Sivik Jr., the Maine divisional leader was bred by Luke and Patricia Varnun.
Nuh Uh finished second and Ghost Of Winter (Andy Harrington) was third.
(Maine Sire Stakes; photo of Real Horrorshow winning on Aug. 11)