The Maine Sire Stakes were back on the Pine Tree State’s famed fair circuit with the trotters at Farmington Fair on Wednesday, Sept. 23.
In the only wagering division, a $23,993 event for freshman male trotters, Pembroke Zagursky earned his second straight stakes score and took a new 2:01.4 lifetime mark.
Driver Heath Campbell sent Pembroke Zagursky right to the top while 2-5 favourite U Know I Know (Ken Watson) made a break at the start. Campbell arrived at the first station in :29.4 with a six-length advantage, while Come On Charlie (Mark Athearn) was making up ground to close the pocket gap by the time they hit the half in 1:01.3. Back on stride, U Know I Know was out and rolling first-over in third when the pacesetter hit the third panel in 1:31.4. At that point, Campbell sent his charge on a faster path to the finish, posting a :30 final quarter and winning by 10-1/2 open lengths. U Know I Know was second and Race Me Bruno (Wallace Watson) rounded out the top three.
The winning Pembroke Slugger-Pembroke Mistress colt is trained by Valerie Grondin for owner Brenda Varney of Bangor, Maine. He paid $5.40 to win.
A pair of $23,000-plus non-wagering divisions for three-year-old trotting fillies resulted in wire-to-wire efforts for both the Charlene Cushing-trained Our Last Quote, who picked up her second consecutive stakes win and a new mark in 2:01.2 in rein to Steve Wilson, and Hayden, who found redemption after an uncharacteristic miscue in her last outing for trainer/driver Gary Hall to stroll home a winner in 2:05.1 while improving to eight-for-10 this year.
In the $23,000-plus Maine Sire Stakes split for three-year-old trotting colts and geldings, Wilder N Idy got back to his winning ways, nearly equalling his lifetime mark with a 2:00.3 triumph for driver Mark Athearn and trainer Gretchen Athearn. The win was his sixth in 10 starts this year.
In the $23,000-plus dash for two-year-old trotting fillies, Princess Caledonia rolled from pillar to post in 2:05 for trainer/driver Gary Hall, giving her six wins in eight starts.
(With files from Maine Sire Stakes)