On a brisk but sunny autumn afternoon at Hollywood Casino Hotel and Raceway, in Bangor, Maine, four $100,000-plus Maine Sire Stakes finals on Saturday (Oct. 17) delivered some chalk and an upset in the culmination of the annual series for Pine Tree State-bred 3-year-old trotters and pacers.
Massive Speed wins Fred Nichols final at Bangor
The first real cold snap of autumn could do nothing to lessen the enthusiasm felt at Bangor Raceway on Saturday (Oct. 17) as the Queen City oval played host to the $400,000-plus championship round of the Maine Sire Stakes sophomore set, a card co-headlined by the $20,000 final of the Fred Nichols Pacing Series.
Six Simpson sections head Saturday Pocono card
Stakes youngsters were gathered at Pocono Downs at Mohegan Sun on Saturday afternoon, as $211,700 was up for grab in two John Simpson Sr. Stakes, two divisions of the Razzle Hanover, for freshman pacing females, and two sections of the Ayres, for sophomore trotting males. In both groups, the only favorite to win in the divisions turned in the group’s fastest mile.
Hope Hill, Sangria Summer score in Crown elims for 3YO filly pacers
Hope Hill jogged to victory in the first of two $25,000 Breeders Crown eliminations for 3-year-old pacing fillies on Saturday (Oct. 17) at Eldorado Scioto Downs.
Miss Dolce, Aintmyfirstro Deo score in Big M’s Renaissance
Miss Dolce used a well-timed move by driver Vinny Ginsburg to pull off a mild surprise in the second of two $45,000 finals of the Renaissance for 2-year-old pacers at the Meadowlands on Saturday night (Oct. 17).
Nezuko Kamado S sets track record in Crown Filly Trot elim
Hambletonian Oaks winner Nezuko Kamado S persisted with a first-over grind and staved off late pursuers to take the first of three $25,000 Grade 1 Breeders Crown eliminations for 3-year-old trotting fillies in a track-record 1:51.2 mile on Saturday night (Oct. 17) at Eldorado Scioto Downs. Little Road and She’s Moni won the other eliminations.
Women Layer, Dandy Ideal triumph in Crown Open Pace elims
Women Layer and Dandy Ideal stamped their tickets to the big dance in a pair of $25,000 Breeders Crown Open Pace eliminations Saturday evening (Oct. 17) at Eldorado Scioto Downs.
Gentleman’s Club delivers major upset in Crown elim
Sent off at 26-1, Gentleman’s Club sustained a first-over grind for a half mile to overpower 2025 Breeders Crown champion Beau Jangles in a divisional track record 1:48.3 in the first of two $25,000 Breeders Crown 3-Year-Old Colt and Gelding Pace eliminations on Saturday (Oct. 17) at Eldorado Scioto Downs.
El Toro Loco, Lip Reader A win Batavia Opens
Batavia Downs featured a pair of $13,500 top-class races on Saturday (Oct. 17) night, and two local favorites took home the bulk of those purses.
Digging For Gold strikes gold in Vernon Open
Digging For Gold (Ron Harp) charged late to grab the $8,500 Open Pace at Vernon Downs on Saturday (Oct. 17).