A true sign of summer is when the Maine Sire Stakes and harness racing in general makes its annual swing into the Pine Tree State’s agricultural fair circuit. On Monday, Aug. 4, the region’s three-year-old filly pacers rolled into the historic Topsham Fair with Chasing Dudes and Glorilla victorious in the pair of $16,000-plus divisions.
In the $16,392 pari-mutuel division, 4-5 betting choice Leanne Marie (Mike Cushing) left swiftly from post two to grab the lead just past the :30 opening panel. From that point, she was on cruise control through a midway marker of 1:01.1. With 5-2 second choice Chasing Dudes (Andy Harrington) sitting a tight pocket and 8-1 shot Wishin For Kisses (Kevin Switzer Jr.) racing third with the rest of the field out of contention after early breaks, the pacesetter hit the third panel in 1:31.3. As they turned for home, the pocket-sitting Chasing Dudes tipped out and took aim at the leader, out-pacing Leanne Marie to the wire to score by a quarter-length in 2:03.
Co-owned by trainer Mike Graffam and New Gloucester, Maine breeder Bob Marston, the Dudes The Man-Caviart Caterina filly earned her second win of the season from five starts and sixth lifetime victory, pushing her earnings over $180,000. She paid $7.80 to win.
In the non-betting $16,078 division, which was contested before the regular card, McGwire Sowers sent Whisper Of Luck out to an early lead after exchanging a give-and-go with stablemate Thinkin Bout Life (Kevin Switzer Jr.) past the :31.2 quarter-mile marker. She led the field into a 1:02.1 half, with Dudes Pretty Chick (Heath Campbell) first-up and Glorilla giving chase second-over in fourth in rein to Aaron Hall. By the 1:32.3 third panel, the advancers were gaining on the pacesetter, who ultimately succumbed to the speed of Glorilla. The Hall-trained daughter of Dudes The Man-Unknown Artist kicked home in :30.2 to pass her fellow combatants and secure the victory by a cool pair of lengths in 2:03.1. Thinkin Bout Life finished second and Dudes Pretty Chick was third.
Bred by Kevin Sywyk, Glorilla is owned by Ron Cushing of Waterville, Maine and picked up her second win in six seasonal starts and third victory lifetime, putting her earnings over $64,000.
Looking ahead, with Maine’s pari-mutuel tracks on summer hiatus, all of the Pine Tree State-bred two and three-year-old trotters invade the Topsham Fair on Wednesday, Aug. 6. Next up are the three-year-old male pacers on Thursday, Aug. 7 and two-year-old filly pacers on Saturday, Aug. 9.
(With files from Maine Sire Stakes; photo of Chasing Dudes winning on Aug. 4)