It was déjà vu at Windsor Fair as the top three-year-old pacing fillies in the Maine Sire Stakes, Snowonthepines and Just Delightful, displayed their dominance on Labour Day Monday (Sept. 7), the final day of the fair.
A week ago, harness racing fans and fairgoers witnessed both fillies take their Maine Sire Stakes divisions in grand fashion, and seven days later, it was much of the same.
In the day's second $23,901 non-wagering stakes division, it was another wire-to-wire romp for divisional standout Snowonthepines, who remained undefeated in 18 career starts.
Driver Kevin Switzer Jr. and Snowonthepines posted moderate early fractions of :29.4 and 1:00.4 with Heymickeyyousofine (Heath Campbell) stuck to his helmet to three-quarters in 1:30.4. The pacesetting duo rolled on to victory as they usually do, with nary a care in the world. Stopping the clock at 1:59.4, the perfect Dudes The Man-Snow Cone A filly won for the ninth time this season. Heymickeyyousofine finished second by 1-1/2 lengths and Ekorus (Joey Mosher) was third in the quintet.
The victory sent Snowonthepines's seasonal earnings over the $100,000 mark for the second year, putting her lifetime bankroll at $237,450 for trainer Marc Tardif and owner Leighton Property of Waterboro, Maine.
Just Delightful drew into her own division for the second straight week at Windsor and made quick work of the competition in the first $23,589 non-wagering event.
Driver and co-owner Ron Cushing hastily put Just Delightful in the lead in the four-filly contest and rolled to a :28.2 opening panel. The daughter of Western Maverick-Shesjustadelight N got a breather going to the half in :58.4, with Dudelookslikeafily (Aaron Hall) sitting a tight pocket trip, and was rated through three-quarters in 1:28.1. Around the final turn and through the stretch, Cushing gave Just Delightful her head and the filly responded by leaving the rest of the field in her wake, drawing off by 8-3/4 lengths to score in 1:58. Graceofspades (Dave Ingraham) finished second over Dudelookslikeafily.
The Heidi Cushing trainee earned her third win of the season in 10 starts to go along with six runner-up finishes. She is also owned by Stephen Downey of Quispamsis, N.B., and Anthony & Joseph Romanelli of Flushing, New York.
The Pine Tree State-bred series moves to Bangor for the next few weeks, starting with all of the two and three-year-old trotters on Wednesday, Sept. 9, followed by the freshman male pacers on Saturday, Sept. 12.
(With files from Maine Sire Stakes)