The streaking Gowestyounggrace and Mrs Foxy Roxy both took their respective $26,920 divisions of the Maine Sire Stakes for three-year-old pacing fillies on Wednesday, Sept. 25 at the Cumberland Fair.
Gowestyounggrace has been unstoppable since late June as she recorded her ninth straight victory and 10th on the season in 14 starts.
Owned and bred by trainer Fred Ward and Sharon Ward, the swift daughter of Western Maverick gave Emma Rozze and Heath Campbell a re-take into the :29 first panel. It was the first time that the filly had seen the back of a helmet in months, so David Ingraham wasted little time re-establishing command before the 1:00.2 half.
By the third stanza in 1:30.2, with the rest of the field following intently, it was only a matter of how fast he would let ‘Grace’ pace down to the wire. Ultimately, the final time was a reserved 1:59.4 as Gowestyounggrace won by 1-3/4 lengths.
She paid $2.20 to win as the heavy favourite. Whos Perfect (Aaron Hall) finished second and Emma Rozze was third.
In the other division, Mrs Foxy Roxy and Walter Case Jr. led every step of the way, scoring in 2:00.3 by neck over a fast-closing Pembroke Red (Heath Campbell). My Sweet Revenge (Kevin Switzer Jr.) finished third.
The duaghter of Deuce Seelster earned her fourth seasonal victory in 14 starts and paid $11.60 for a $2 win ticket. Trained by Bob Marston for Bill McElvaine Jr., Diane Dunn and Brad Veilleux, she was bred in Maine by Kristina and Gary Hall.
Before the Wedneday card, the Maine Standardbred Breeders Association held a special on-air draw at First Tracks Cumberland, where Saturday’s four $75,000-plus (USD) divisions of the Maine Sire Stakes finals for two-year-olds were drawn. Click here to view the entries.
The Maine Sire Stakes continues, along with a full cards of harness racing action, at the Cumberland Fair with the three-year-old male pacers on Thursday and the three-year-old trotters completing the sophomore divisions on Friday ahead of Saturday's two-year-old finals. Post time is 1 p.m. each day. The Sunday card has a special post time of 10:55 a.m. for that final racing date.
(With files from First Tracks Cumberland)