Maine’s two-year-old pacing fillies stormed through historic Bass Park a day early with two $14,000-plus divisions, in a successful pre-emptive strike on Friday, Sept. 15 against the potential havoc of Hurricane Lee.
In the $14,486 first division, Whos Perfect (Heath Campbell) took command into a :29.4 opening panel. Without the benefit of cover Gowestyounggrace, the Dave Ingraham-driven daughter of Western Maverick, raced first over through a 1:00.4 half, and began her ascent to the top. Still getting that good Bangor air at the 1:30 third stanza, Gowestyounggrace was poised to pounce, and did just that by taking command at the head of the stretch. Trained by Fred Ward Jr., Gowestyounggrace prevailed by two lengths in 2:00.2, the fastest division of the afternoon.
It was the fourth consecutive victory for the filly that is owned and was bred by Sharon and Fred Ward Jr. She has earned $32,956 in just seven lifetime starts.
Gowestyounggrace paid $6.60 to win from the outermost fifth starting post position. Wagering favourite Whos Perfect finished second and Ghost Of You (Kevin Switzer Jr.) was third.
My Sweet Revenge followed a perfect garden-spot trip to grab the second $14,487 division of Maine-sire freshman fillies.
Driven by Walter Case Jr., the reinsman let betting favourite Mrs Foxy Roxy (Nick Graffam) do all the heavy lifting as she cut moderate fractions through a relatively uneventful mile. But the action came quickly and decisively as ‘Casey’ unleashed the daughter of Western Maverick at the head of the stretch to wear down the pacesetter and score by three parts of a length in 2:04.1.
Trained by Marc Tardif and owned by Leighton Property, My Sweet Revenge notched the second victory of her career. She was bred by Laurie Harding and Reginald Duguay.
My Sweet Revenge paid $15 to win. Mrs Foxy Roxy finished second and Summertime (Steve Wilson) was third.
In other news, one of Maine’s favourite daughters, Valerie Grondin, picked up her 500th career driving victory aboard her own Zampara in the final race of the afternoon at Bangor. Friends and family from as far south as Bell, Florida were eager to congratulate the prominent Maine Sire Stakes trainer for her career driving achievement.
The Maine Sire Stakes rolls into the Farmington Fair on Sunday, Sept. 17 for four days of Pine Tree State harness racing.
(Maine Sire Stakes)