Maine’s two-year-old filly pacers made their annual visit to the Topsham Fair on Thursday, Aug. 13 with freshmen pacing sensation No Small Wonder taking her fourth stakes win in a row to remain undefeated.
A pair of $20,810 Maine Sire Stakes events went postward on the pleasant summer afternoon, with one dash before the card, and the second carded as the opener on the 10-race program.
When the wings of the starting gate folded, driver Kevin Switzer Jr. pointed division leader No Small Wonder right out to the front from her pylon position with little fanfare. They reached the opening panel in :30.3 with Siri (Heath Campbell) sitting a loose pocket and Bettors Treasure (McGwire Sowers) in third.
They passed the stands the first time with No Small Wonder leading the way and setting a 1:01.2 half-mile mark. Around the five-eighths Feel The Fury (Andy Harrington) had caught the pack despite an earlier miscue and was gaining ground first over. Switzer Jr. fired up his charge past the 1:31.4 third station and began to gain some separation from the rest of the field.
With no threats in sight No Small Wonder was given free rein to pace down to the wire on cruise control, tripping the timer in 2:00.4 to win by nearly four lengths. Siri finished second; Bettors Treasure was third.
Trained by Kevin Switzer Sr. for owners KDK Standardbreds of Cumberland, Me., Kathleen Mofield of Bedford, Ma. and Anthony Sivik Jr. of Orono, Me. No Small Wonder (State Treasurer-I Am Wonder Woman) has earned $43,710 thus far.
Wine For The Lady ($5.20) prevailed in the second Maine Sire Stakes division, winning in a lifetime best 2:04.
In the second division, which was on the pari-mutuel card, second choice, Showfaith Showdown (Nick Graffam) got out for an early lead from post three. They reached the opening panel in :32 with Lillian G (Dakota Niles) in the pocket and 8-5 favourite Wine For The Lady sitting third for Aaron Hall.
Just past the 1:04.3 midway point, Bad Bunny T (Switzer) was able to flush the cover of Wine For The Lady as the field passed the paddock turn for the second time. At the 1:35 third stanza Wine For The Lady had collared the pacesetting Showfaith Showdown and the two battled around the final turn and through the head of the Topsham Fair stretch. Down to the wire it was a champagne toast for Wine For The Lady as she prevailed by 2-1/2 lengths. Showfaith Showdown stayed for second, with Lillian G hanging on for third.
Trained by Marc Tardif for owner-breeder Leighton Property, Wine For The Lady (State Treasurer-Ladyofcastlebrook) now has two wins in four seasonal outings with $27,524 in purses accrued.
Later on the pari-mutuel card, Rau Ru ($5.60) claimed his sixth consecutive win for owner/trainer Zach Vickerson of Portland, Me.
Aggressive off the car with driver Kevin Switzer, Jr handling the lines, Rau Ru begrudgingly acquiesced to a pocket trip past the eighth-pole after Jones Hanover (Mike Stevenson) insisted on taking point. Through evenly rated fractions of :29.1, :59.2 and 1:28.2, Rau Ru dogged the front-runner, sitting nose-to-helmet along the pegs, moving from his tether only as Cool Man Dude (Heath Campbell) launched a bold rally bid around the final turn.
Fanning across the raceway at the head of the stretch, Rau Ru finally gained the advantage over Jones Hanover only to met by a stern challenge from Cool Man Dude, but Rau Ru persevered at the wire to win by three parts of a length, timed in a brisk 1:57.3.
Cool Man Dude finished second while Jones Hanover dead-heated for the show with Head Of The Table (Aaron Hall).
Rau Ru is now a 32-time winner in his career with $321,727 in earnings.
Looking ahead, the fair racing concludes at Topsham with the two-year-old male pacers of the Maine Sire Stakes on Saturday, Aug. 15. The following week the harness racing action moves north to Skowhegan and kicks off on Tuesday, Aug. 18 with the state's top three-year-old colt and gelding pacers, followed on Wednesday, Aug. 19 by the sophomore distaff pacers.
(with files from Maine Sire Stakes and Topsham Fair)