Known as Maine’s second largest agricultural fair, the Windsor Fair welcomes two $17,000-plus USD divisions of the Maine Sire Stakes for three-year-old pacing fillies on Sunday, Aug. 24 following a week’s respite for the series formerly known as the Maine Standardbred Breeders Stakes.
When the sophomore sidesteppers visit the fair, many will be looking to secure their position in the lucrative finals set for Oct. 11 at Bangor Raceway. The current point leader in the division is Team Cushing’s filly Leanne Marie (pictured above) who has amassed 225 points with four wins and three seconds and earnings of $48,265 on the season.
The daughter of Artistic Fella is the homebred property of Pamela Smith, Jane DiPompo and trainer Charlene ‘Sherry’ Cushing, with hubby Mike handling the driving duties. She leads a field of six from post three in the $17,427 USD second split, which will be held before the regular card.
Not to be outdone, the Graffams have a filly star of their own in Chasing Dudes. Scoring from the pylon position, Chasing Dudes gets the services of Nick Graffam on Sunday. The daughter of Dudes The Man has a pair of victories and three seconds in the series. Trained and co-owned by Mike Graffam, Chasing Dudes is co-owned by breeder Bob Marston.
Rounding out the field is the return of Ron Cushing’s Lysiun (post four), who won her first three in a row before being sidelined in early July. Trained by Heidi Cushing, the daughter of Dudes The Man should enjoy being back in the Pine Tree State after her Pocono Downs qualifier. She was bred in Maine by Lynn-Marie Plouffe.
In the other division $17,201 USD division of three-year-old pacing fillies Glorilla (PP2, Aaron Hall) is coming off of two wins in a row with the daughter of Dudes The Man likely to control the tempo.
The Marc Tardif stable sends out the consistent Thinkin Bout Life, the second leading point earner in the division, from post four. The daughter of Dudes The Man gets the driving services of Kevin Switzer Jr.
The Maine Sire Stakes continues at the Windsor Fair with the two-year-old male pacers on Monday, Aug. 25 and then the three-year-old glamour boys division on Tuesday, Aug. 26.
(with files from Maine Sire Stakes)