Unbeaten freshman pacing filly No Small Wonder increased her Maine Sire Stakes winning streak to seven with a divisional track record performance at Bangor Raceway on Sunday, Sept. 13.
In the day's first early $23,588 non-wagering stakes division, No Small Wonder was sent right to the top in the traditional manner by front-end favouring reinsman Kevin Switzer Jr. Scoring from post four, No Small Wonder hit the opening panel in a moderate :29.1. The daughter of State Treasurer-I Am Wonder Woman continued to show the way through middle splits of 1:00 and 1:29.3, while Bettors Treasure (McGwire Sowers) kept a tight pocket. Down the backside the final time, Feel The Fury (Aaron Hall) went first-over, but eventually broke stride. At the head of the stretch, Switzer Jr. gave No Small Wonder free reign and she scampered off to win by 2-1/4 lengths over the wet, but fast track in a lifetime-best 1:58.3. Bettors Treasure finished second and Bad Bunny T (Nick Graffam) rounded out the top three.
Trained by Kevin Switzer Sr. for owners KDK Standardbreds of Cumberland, Maine, Kathleen Mofield of Bedford, Massachusetts and Anthony Sivik Jr. of Orono, Maine, No Small Wonder has earned just over $80,000 in her seven successful career starts in the Maine Sire Stakes program.
In the second $23,588 division, a series of give and takes resulted in Siri, the filly, getting her first lifetime victory. Leaving from post four the daughter of State Treasurer-Alexas Luck grabbed the lead for regular driver Heath Campbell, hitting the opening panel in :28.4. While advancing to the 1:00.3 half, Lillian G (Dakota Niles) took command and then had a hard-charging Wine For The Lady (Aaron Hall) alongside her. Soon thereafter, Lillian G jumped off stride allowing Wine For The Lady to gain six lengths on the rest of the field as she hit the third station in 1:29.2. However, the filly that is no relation to Apple’s digital assistant utilized the backstretch breather to swoop the leader down the stretch and prevail by half a length in 2:00.2. Showfaith Showdown (Nick Graffam) finished third.
Trained by Jimmy Nickerson for owners Tim Bojarski of Akron, New York and Tony Gruppo of Bradenton, Florida, Siri has been second three times this season, often to divisional standout No Small Wonder. The filly finally got her moment to shine in her seventh career start, bumping her earnings over $32,000.
Looking ahead, the Maine Sire Stakes concludes at Bangor with the three-year-old pacing colts and geldings on Wednesday, Sept. 16. Following that race, the series transitions back to the fairs with a week of action at Farmington starting with the three-year-old filly pacers on Monday, Sept. 21.
(With files from Maine Sire Stakes)